Saturday, July 28, 2012

Tyrannosaurs In Mexico

The human history of Mexico is interesting, but after diligent study it can all seem desperately depressing. Between the ruthless Spanish conquest, the bloody civil wars, and the cutthroat politics, Mexico is home to far too much human drama. So let's jump back in time--way back--to when the land was ruled by creatures whose notion of politics was less 'diplomatic maneuvering' and more 'skull full of 8-inch teeth'.

Yes, dinosaurs. They fascinate all of us at some point, regardless of age, gender, or geographic location. Known only from a handful of fossilized remains, dinosaurs are a stark reminder of the incredible age of the Earth, and the immense variety of life that lived and died long before humans came around. They are tantalizing; every new discovery raises more questions than it answers. And no dinosaur is more dramatic or terrifying than the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

This theropod dinosaur lived in western North America during the late Cretaceous period, between 67 and 65 million years ago. They were among the last dinosaurs to exist before the massive K-T extinction event that killed most life on Earth. Back in the Cretaceous, North America was barely recognizable, split in two by a massive inland sea that covered most of the American Midwest. The T-rex had an impressive range, from Alberta all the way down to the northern Mexican states, and it's no wonder; it was one of the largest land-based carnivores in the world. Fossilized specimens measure 40 feet in length, and weight estimates range from five to seven tons.

The Tyrannosaurus Rex is so famous that it almost defies the need for description: it ran on two huge and powerful hind legs, and had a gigantic skull filled with sharp teeth and huge, forward-facing eyes. The small front arms bore powerful claws, and its heavy body was balanced by an impressively bulky tail. The T-Rex was either an apex predator--hunting other carnivorous animals--or a scavenger; debate has raged over the years. But it is known that those teeth were capable of crushing bones, and the forward-facing eyes are still found on predators to this day.

Scientists know more about the Tyrannosaurus Rex than they do most other dinosaurs, in part because they've found several complete fossilized skeletons. This is an incredibly rare event; most dinosaur fossils are small collections of bones. But T-Rex remains have been relatively abundant; some have even contained preserved soft tissue and proteins. Researchers have been able to determine sexual dimorphism, possible cannibalistic tendencies, and even evidence that T-Rexes suffered from parasitic infections. With their intimidating skulls and massive size, it's no wonder that Tyrannosaurus Rex is the most recognizable dinosaur on the planet. If you thought that dinosaurs couldn't possibly have lived in your own backyard, think again; from the wine fields of Sonora to the deserts of Texas, your homestead was once the hunting ground of the Cretaceous Era's most famous predator.

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Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/tyrannosaurs-in-mexico-284914

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