Scotty Sketch

Was there ever a unit more absolute?

Discovered in 1991, the description of the giant Canadian tyrant nicknamed 'Scotty' was announced this week. At an estimated 12-13 meters and a proposed weight of nearly 10 tons, Scotty has famously taken the title of largest known T. rex specimen, usurping the previous record-holder, Sue (blessed be their bones). In addition to the specimen's great size, it is also the oldest known tyrant, estimated to be in its early thirties at the time of death. Many pathologies disfigure the now-famous skeleton. Scars of tyrannosaur bites can be seen on the jaws and tail, and broken ribs could indicate a nasty fall. Like most T. rex specimens, it seems Scotty led a violent life, with multiple clashes against other tyrants. 

Although the sex of Scotty is not known (to my knowledge only one tyrant's sex is known: B-rex), and I personally lean towards the theory that larger specimens were female and more gracile individuals were male (the gracile ones tend to have more prominent skull ornamentation), I have reconstructed Scotty here as a bull, complete with bristled filaments and a cornified crown. I came to that decision because Scotty's postorbital boss is quite prominent compared to some other specimens. I'm quite interested to see the conclusion of future studies that might indicate if the distinction between gracile and robust tyrants is due to age, sex, diet (similar to transient vs resident orcas), the early stages of speciation, or some other factor. 

Cheers, folks!

-Keenan