JOURNAL ARTICLE

Slow grower: Tyrannosaurus rex didn't reach full size until age 40: Famed dino likely spent much of its life competing for food against smaller predators.

  • Published In: Sciencemag.org, 2026. P. N.PAG 1 of 3

  • Database: Applied Science & Technology Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: BUEHLER, JAKE 3 of 3

Abstract

The article discusses new research on the growth patterns of the Tyrannosaurus rex, revealing that it took approximately 40 years to reach full size, significantly longer than previous estimates of around 25 years. This study, published in PeerJ, analyzed leg bones from 17 T. rex individuals and found that the dinosaur likely spent much of its life competing with smaller predators, as it grew more slowly than previously thought. The findings also suggest the possibility of multiple species being classified under the T. rex label, as some specimens exhibited growth patterns that did not align with the established understanding of the species. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Sciencemag.org. 2026/01, pN.PAG
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
  • Publication Date:2026
  • Accession Number:190914126
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