Tarbosaurus

## Physiology

### Description

Large Asian predator identical in appearance to Tyrannosaurus rex but with some differences

### Attributes

Features similar to Tyrannosaurus rex, but possesses some differences; large, however smaller than T. rex; tiny arms; fairly long, huge, and thin head; massive jaws; sharp teeth; aggressive nature

## Biography

### Locations

Asia

***Tarbosaurus*** (name meaning "*Alarming Lizard*") is a genus of tyrannosaurid dinosaur that originated during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Asia. Measuring 12 meters in length and weighing 5 tons, *Tarbosaurus* was the second-largest member of the Tyrannosaur family, after *Tyrannosaurus* itself. *Tarbosaurus* was the apex predator of its region, hunting large prey items such as *Saurolophus*, one of the largest herbivores in its area, as well as its natural enemy, *Therizinosaurus*.

In the Series 2 episode, "***The Giant Claw**,*" a mating pair of *Tarbosaurus* were brought to the park from Late Cretaceous Mongolia, 80 million years ago. They reside in the Tyrannosaur Kingdom Enclosure with other tyrannosaurs, especially *Tyrannosaurus*.

## Facts

### Era & Discovery

By far the largest and apex predator of its ecosystem, *Tarbosaurus* lived in Mongolia, Asia during the Late Cretaceous period, around 80 million years ago, and died out with all the other dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous, about 65 million years ago. As some of the first members of the tyrannosaur family, Tarbosaurus shared its environment with fauna such as *Velociraptor*, *Mononykus*, *Protoceratops*, *Saurolophus*, and *Therizinosaurus*. *Tarbosaurus* was first discovered in Mongolia in 1946.

### Physical Attributes

As the second largest member of the tyrannosaur family, after *Tyrannosaurus* itself, *Tarbosaurus* was one of the largest theropod dinosaurs that ever walked the Earth. They stood 15 – 16 feet (4 – 5 m) tall, measured between 32 – 43 feet (9 – 13 m) long, and weighed up to 4 – 6 tons (8,000 – 13,000 lbs.). One large individual measured 46 feet (14.1 m) in length.

Being the Asian cousin of its American relatives *Albertosaurus*, *Gorgosaurus*, *Daspletosaurus*, and *Tyrannosaurus*, *Tarbosaurus* had the basic body plan of a generic theropod dinosaur. It was similar to its close and larger relative, *Tyrannosaurus*, but had a sleeker, slimmer head. It also had completely grey scales. *Tarbosaurus* would occasionally walk vertically, in order to balance its massive head with the rest of its body.

The top predator of Mongolia at the end of the Late Cretaceous period, *Tarbosaurus* was the largest terrestrial predators of their region because they stood tall and stood vertically. Their small arms at the front helped balance their massive heads with their huge skulls and massive teeth for making devastating bites into prey and pulling out chunks of flesh. In addition, *Tarbosaurus* had good hearing.

### Behavior & Traits

Unlike most other members of the tyrannosaur family that hunted in packs, *Tarbosaurus* was often a solitary hunter, only getting together in groups during mating season. However, they have been known to hunt in packs on some occasion. *Tarbosaurus* was an aggressive apex predator that hunted alone and would attack probably any other animal in the Mongolian Desert. Perhaps the only animal that posed a threat to a *Tarbosaurus* - save for another of its own species - was its natural enemy, *Therizinosaurus*.

## Trivia

* *Tarbosaurus* was the first member of the tyrannosaur family brought to the park.
	+ Additionally, it is also the fourth largest predatory dinosaur of the cretaceous.
* The sound effects of *Tarbosaurus* are that of bear, crocodile, and tiger sound effects. They also produce the roars of the *Tyrannosaurus rex* featured in "*Jurassic Fight Club*.
* *Tarbosaurus* was actually larger than *Therizinosaurus*, as opposed to as large.