**Tarbosaurus: A Giant Predator from the Past**
Tarbosaurus, which means “alarming lizard,” is a well-known dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 70 million years ago. It existed in Asia, particularly in Mongolia.
**What is Tarbosaurus?**
Tarbosaurus is part of a family of dinosaurs called tyrannosaurids, famous for being large predators. The most recognized species of this genus is Tarbosaurus bataar. Fossils of Tarbosaurus, including complete skulls and skeletons, have been found in Mongolia’s Nemegt Formation and some areas in China.
Adult Tarbosaurus were quite large, measuring around 10 meters (33 feet) long and weighing between 4.5 to 5 metric tons (about as heavy as a small car!). They had powerful jaws filled with about sixty big teeth, and they were known for having relatively small arms compared to their body size.
**Habitat and Diet**
Tarbosaurus lived in a humid landscape filled with rivers, forests, and plains. As a top predator, it hunted large dinosaurs like ankylosaurs, hadrosaurs, and sauropods.
**Discovery of Tarbosaurus**
The first fossils of Tarbosaurus were unearthed in 1946 by a Soviet-Mongolian expedition in the Gobi Desert. Initially, it was named Tyrannosaurus bataar by paleontologist Evgeny Maleev. Over the years, what we now know as Tarbosaurus has been studied extensively, and most scientists now agree on the name Tarbosaurus bataar.
**Physical Features**
Tarbosaurus was similar in many ways to its bigger cousin, Tyrannosaurus rex, but with some differences. Its skull was taller, and its arms were even smaller. The shape of its skull suggests that Tarbosaurus relied more on its sense of smell and hearing than on its eyesight.
**Fossil Discoveries**
More than 30 Tarbosaurus specimens have been discovered since the original finds. This includes many skulls and complete skeletons, allowing scientists to learn more about their biology and behavior. However, fossils from other species that might be Tarbosaurus remain unconfirmed due to their fragmentary condition.
**Behavior and Hunting Style**
Studies of the fossilized bones show that Tarbosaurus was an active predator rather than just a scavenger. It had a powerful bite, capable of crushing bones similar to Tyrannosaurus. This dinosaur likely hunted large herbivores, including hadrosaurs and gigantic sauropods.
**Fossil Protection Efforts**
Unfortunately, some Tarbosaurus fossils have been illegally exported from Mongolia, leading to legal battles for their return. Fossils of this dinosaur are valuable to science and represent a significant part of Mongolia’s natural heritage.
**Final Thoughts**
Tarbosaurus was not just a vicious predator; it played an important role in its ecosystem millions of years ago. As we continue to uncover more fossils and study their remains, we learn more about how these incredible creatures lived and thrived in prehistoric times.