Tyrannosaurus Rex is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating dinosaurs that ever existed. With its immense size, speed, and lethal power, it’s hard to deny its ferocity, fierceness, and magnificence. Well, at least if we measure magnificence by the ability to tear apart those around you. Anyway, the T. rex has received a lot of attention. From starring in the Jurassic Park movies to being the most talked-about dinosaur and even entertaining us when our internet is down, the T. rex has become a part of our shared culture.
Unfortunately, we must now question the absolute dominance of the T. rex. The Giganotosaurus, a massive dinosaur that lived 30 million years before the T. rex, appears to be a worthy rival. Although these two dinosaurs would have never crossed paths, it’s interesting to wonder what would have happened if they had coexisted.
I don’t want to take away the crown from the king of dinosaurs and hand it over to the Giganotosaurus, so here’s an analysis to determine which predator was more capable.
Size
Determining the size of dinosaurs is a subject of debate. They lived so long ago that we have to rely on fossil evidence to estimate their sizes. We can also use mathematical models to make educated guesses about their dimensions. Based on these models, it’s predicted that the Giganotosaurus could have been 13 meters long and weighed nearly 14 tons.
For a long time, it was believed that the largest T. rex fossil was around 12 meters long and weighed approximately nine and a half tons. This famous fossil, named SUE, would have been smaller than a Giganotosaurus. However, a more recent T. rex discovery named SCOTTY has been found to be as big as Giganotosaurus but slightly lighter in weight.
The size comparison of a Giganotosaurus and a human being. (Photo Credits: Durbed/ Wikimedia Commons)
The decrease in weight could be attributed to an adaptation to increasing global temperatures. This lighter weight may have been a more suitable adaptation. So, in terms of size, we can consider it a draw.
T. rex 0 – Giganotosaurus 0
Speed
Although speed may not be the most crucial factor for dinosaurs as large as these, it is still noteworthy for a top predator.
Estimating a dinosaur’s speed is a complex task that involves reconstructing its muscle structure and density, considering the length of its limbs, and determining the estimated center of mass. Another method used to estimate the movement speed of ancient dinosaurs is comparing the distance between consecutive footprints in a sequence of preserved footprints and the size of each footprint.
However, these methods present many challenges, and scientists face difficulties in accurately estimating a dinosaur’s speed.
The maximum speed of a T. rex has been a subject of controversy for many years. While some scientists estimate the maximum speed to be 27.72Km/hr (7.7m/s), other studies suggest that the T. rex needed to run as fast as 60km/hr (17m/s) to catch its prey. There have even been predictions that it could reach speeds of up to 104km/hr.
On the contrary, it is believed that the Giganotosaurus had the ability to sprint at a speed of 50 km/hr (31.3mph). However, this dinosaur has not been extensively studied, but considering the variations in the T.rex, one could argue that it reaches similar speeds.
Given the inconsistency of the subject and the lack of a clear winner, we must once again declare this round a draw.
T. rex 1 – Giganotosaurus 1
Physical Shape And Structure
Both dinosaurs had elongated bodies, large legs, a massive skull, and two small arms. T. rex had two fingers at the end of each forearm, while Giganotosaurus had three. The functions of these arms are still largely unknown.
Both dinosaurs possessed strong, muscular thighs, which enhanced their running abilities. They also had lengthy, thick tails that aided in balancing the weight of their heads, which were very large and heavy.
Comparison between the size of a T-rex (Black) and Giganotosaurus (Orange) (Photo Credits: Dinoguy2/ Wikimedia Commons)
However, fossil studies suggest that T. rex had a more substantial tail compared to the Giganotosaurus. The Giganotosaurus had a slender, pointed tail, which likely contributed to its agility and ability to make rapid, sharp turns.
The Giganotosaurus’s anatomy made it a superior predator.
It appears that the Giganotosaurus wins this round.
T. rex 1 – Giganotosaurus 2
Bite Strength
While the speed and physical structure of the two dinosaurs are similar, the T. rex had much greater bite strength. It could exert a force of 35,586 N (equivalent to 8,000 pounds), which is comparable to the weight of three small cars or two medium-sized cars!
The Giganotosaurus’s less impressive bite strength prevented it from crushing bones. This hindered its ability to consume other dinosaurs whole, a feat it could have easily accomplished given the size of its mouth.
This round goes to the T.rex.
T. rex 2 – Giganotosaurus 2
Tooth Structure
Another significant factor for predators is the structure of their teeth. While the Giganotosaurus had teeth that were mostly uniform, flat, and wide like blades, the T. rex possessed teeth of varying types. The front teeth were designed for gripping and pulling, the side teeth for tearing flesh, and the back teeth for chewing.
Dinosaur nuggets like these are about the size of your finger. (Photo Credits: Dirk Ingo Franke/ Wikimedia Commons)
Essentially, this is similar to the structure of our own teeth. We use incisors to bite into food, canines to tear through it, and molars at the back to chew. Of course, they dined on other dinosaurs, while we consume their comparatively docile modern relatives (birds).
The teeth of a T-rex (Photo Credits: Imgflip)
The T. rex had a much more advanced tooth structure compared to the Giganotosaurus, which makes sense considering it had an additional 30 million years to evolve.
T. rex 3 – Giganotosaurus 2
Intelligence
As mentioned earlier, both of these dinosaurs had large skulls. The Giganotosaurus had a skull measuring 5.2 feet (1.6 m). However, the T.rex had one of the largest skulls among dinosaurs. Additionally, it is estimated that the T.rex possessed a more complex neural network. In fact, the T-rex was one of the most intelligent dinosaurs, giving it the advantage in this round.
T. rex 4 – Giganotosaurus 2
Thus, The Tyrannosaurus rex Emerges as the Victor!
Despite the close fight, the T.rex emerged victorious in this round. However, it must be acknowledged that these creatures existed in vastly different eras, making it impossible to predict the outcome of a direct confrontation.
Nevertheless, one thing remains certain. I am grateful to be living 60 million years after the reign of these magnificent beasts.