53
w w w. d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m
(MOR 555), their showpiece, is currently on long-term loan to
the National Museum of Natural History, but "Big Mike," a full-
size bronze replica, greets visitors to MOR.
Interestingly, some of the most groundbreaking discoveries
in paleontology emerged from analyses of T. rex specimens in
MOR's collections. Wankel rex, for example, provided the first
evidence of soft tissue in a fossilized organism. The marrow cav-
ity of a femur associated with "B-rex" (MOR 1125) also revealed
a startling feature: medullary bone. According to Dr. John Scan-
nella, this specialized tissue currently is found only in "birds
when they're in the process of laying eggs," thereby confirming
this specimen's sex.
For curious readers, one question typically comes to mind:
How big was an adult T. rex? Given the fragmented condition of
most fossils, precise measurements are rarely possible. However,
a range of size estimates can be generated through comparison of
the most complete T. rex fossils. Based on the remains of Wankel
rex, "Sue" (FMNH PR2081), and "Scotty" (RSM P2523.8), among
others, fully mature adults commonly were 38-40 feet long and
11-12 feet tall at the hips. Estimates of body mass have been cal-
roundhouse-sports.com roundhouse-sports.com
4
0
6
-
5
8
7
-
1
2
5
8
4
0
6
-
5
8
7
-
1
2
5
8
1
4
2
2
W
e
s
t
M
a
i
n
,
B
o
z
e
m
a
n
1
4
2
2
W
e
s
t
M
a
i
n
,
B
o
z
e
m
a
n
B
E
S
T
B
E
S
T
S
K
I
S
H
O
P
S
K
I
S
H
O
P
I
N
I
N
M
O
N
T
A
N
A
M
O
N
T
A
N
A
2022-24
of
B
E
S
T
M
O
N
TA
N
A
A
S
V
O
T
E
D
B
Y
R
E
A
D
E
R
S
O
F
Y
E
A
R
S
WO
N
W
I
N
N
E
R
!
redrobin.com (406) 248-7778
1595 Grand Avenue Suite 210, Billings
W I N N E R B E ST C H I C K E N W I N G S
B E ST K I DS ' D R I N KS
F I N A L I ST B E ST C AT E R I N G
B E ST D O N U TS • B E ST LU N C H
B E ST M I L KS H A K E S
of
B E ST
M O N TA N A
A S V O T E D B Y R E A D E R S O F
2024
F
I
N
A
L
I
S
T
!
Barnum Brown
excavating (top),
and removing the
first T. rex fossil from
Montana (bottom)
