• Subscribe To DinoPit Weekly
  • Contact DinoPit
  • Shop
  • Jurassic Cart

DinoPit

Dinosaurs Online

  • Dinosaur Profiles
  • Science
    • Paleontology
    • Dinosaur Books
    • Dinosaur Exhibits
  • Fun Dino Things
    • DinoCrafts
    • Dinosaur in Entertainment
    • Dinosaur Jokes
    • Gifts for Dinosaur Lovers
    • PaleoArt
  • Latest News
  • The DinoPit Podcast

Was Tyrannosaurus Rex a Hunter or Scavenger?

People Want to Know: Was Tyrannosaurus Rex a Hunter or Scavenger?

One of the questions most commonly asked about one of the world’s most beloved dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus Rex, is whether or not it was a hunter or scavenger. While there are a number of different viewpoints on the issue, the general consensus when answering the question “was Tyrannosaurus Rex a hunter or scavenger” tends to be that T-Rex was most likely both a hunter and a scavenger.

Was Tyrannosaurus Rex a Hunter or Scavenger
Image Courtesy of Flickr User Dan Stephenson

Was Tyrannosaurus Rex a Hunter or Scavenger? Wasn’t Tyrannosaurus Too Big to Catch Prey?

One of the most common arguments against Tyrannosaurus Rex being an active hunter is that it was simply too big and too slow to catch up with prey items. The fact that T-Rex was a slow and lumbering creature is actually a common misconception. Certainly this considerable creature could not have outrun Gallimimus, but it wasn’t known for running at a snail’s pace either. Research finds that many of the bones of Tyrannosaurus Rex were actually hollow and honeycombed leading to a lighter frame and a faster running speed. Current estimates believe that this Jurassic beast was capable of running at speeds of around 25 MPH. The body of the Tyrannosaurus Rex was built for hunting supporting that this carnivore was an active hunter.

What Stopped Tyrannosaurus Rex From Just Scavenging?

Many dinosaur lovers question why the Tyrannosaurus Rex wouldn’t have just been a scavenger because it was easier. Preying on carcasses that something else had expended the energy to kill would certainly have meant less energy expansion for T-Rex but it also came with its own perils.

Competition

One of the biggest concern when scavenging on existing kills would be the presence of competition. There is the competition from whatever made the kill in the first place as well as competition from other scavengers. If one T-Rex smelled the kill then it is very likely that others did too and this could lead to dangerous confrontation that could lead to injury or death.

Lack of Food

Lack of food would also have been a significant concern for a scavenger only Tyrannosaurus Rex. Despite the number of carcasses that may be out there, the T-Rex requires a significant amount of meat to sustain it’s body mass and energy levels. While there is no doubt that herbivores greatly outnumbered carnivores, there were still simply too many large carnivores around for Tyrannosaurus Rex to have survived on scavenging alone.

Would this 7.2 ton beast have passed up a free carcass? No, but in a time of so many large carnivores free meals didn’t come about often enough to sustain the Tyrannosaurus population.

Was Tyrannosaurus Rex a Hunter or Scavenger? The Answer is Both Hunter and Scavenger

Evidence supports the fact that Tyrannosaurus Rex was both a hunter and a scavenger but in the grand scheme of things it was far more of an active hunter than it was a scavenger.

So ask no more “was Tyrannosaurus Rex a hunter or scavenger” !

Filed Under: Paleontology Tagged With: Carnivorous Dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus Rex

Learn More About Dinosaurs

Giganotosaurus

Just How Big Was Giganotosaurus?

Giganotosaurus is a somewhat forgotten late Cretaceous theropod that is often overshadowed by the smaller theropod Tyrannosaurus Rex. Giganotosaurus may have been larger overall than T-Rex; however, in terms of bite force, this Carcharodontosauridae had a bite force of three times less than that of Tyrannosaurus Rex! Not impressed by this carnivore yet? You will […]

More Science Posts

Fun With Dinos

Dinosaur Pillow Pet

Dinosaur Toy List

See What Toys Made the Top Dinosaur Toy List The holidays are just around the corner – seriously, have you seen the Christmas displays going up already? Well they’re going up right and left here and that means that it’s the right time to start thinking about gift ideas for that special someone. As a […]

More Dinosaur Fun

Latest Podcast Episode

Dromaeosaurs (Or What Jurassic Park Got Wrong, and Right, About Raptors)

https://media.transistor.fm/702f9565.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 12:20 — 11.3MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Dromaeosaurs, from Microraptor to Utahraptor, are amongst the most iconic and fascinating families of dinosaurs. Bolstered by both Jurassic Park and endless scientific studies linking them directly to birds, it’s almost impossible to not love them.

Resources:

  • Quill knobs in bones
  • Utahraptor death trap
  • The Climbing Claw

Subscribe to Podcast

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAndroidby EmailRSS

T-Shirts: Dino-Style

  • Triceratops Skull T-Shirt $25.00
  • Pachycephalosaurus Skull T-Shirt $25.00

Topics

Carnivorous Dinosaurs Ceratopsia Ceratopsidae Chasmosaurinae Cretaceous Period Dinosaurs Dinosaur Art Dinosaur Cakes Dinosaur Clothing Dinosaur Craft Ideas Dinosaur Crafts Dinosaur Cupcakes Dinosaur Exhibits Dinosaur Extinction Dinosaur Facts Dinosaur Games Dinosaur Gifts Dinosaur Movies Dinosaur News Dinosaur Research Dinosaur T-Shirt Dinosaur Toys Dinosaur TV Dinosaur Videos Diplodocidae Dromaeosauridae Eudromaeosauria Feathered Dinosaurs Hadrosauridae Herbivorous Dinosaurs Jurassic Period Dinosaurs Make a Dinosaur Monday Omnivorous Dinosaurs Ornithischia Ornithopoda Saurischia Saurolophinae Sauropoda Sauropodomorpha Seismosaurus Theropoda Triassic Period Dinosaurs Triceratops Troodon Tyrannosaurus Rex Velociraptor
Shopping Links
  • Main Shop Page
  • Your Cart

Main Categories

  • Dinosaur Profiles
  • Science
    • Paleontology
    • Dinosaur Books
    • Dinosaur Exhibits
  • Fun Dino Things
    • DinoCrafts
    • Dinosaur in Entertainment
    • Dinosaur Jokes
    • Gifts for Dinosaur Lovers
    • PaleoArt
  • Latest News
  • The DinoPit Podcast

Recent Posts

  • Largest, Oldest Titanosaur Coexisted With Many
  • ‘Dinosaur Planet’ – The Nostalgia Nobody Got To Experience
  • Pryroraptor
  • A Toothsome Spinosaurus Bed Keeps The Charismatic Theropod Plunged In The River
  • Danger Ahead For Original Jurassic Park Trio

Scott Kraus · © Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved