Tarbosaurus is a large dinosaur that lived in Mongolia during the Late Cretaceous period, about 70 million years ago. It falls under a group of dinosaurs known as tyrannosaurs and is often compared to the more famous Tyrannosaurus rex.
The name “Tarbosaurus” means “alarming lizard.” The type species of this dinosaur is called Tarbosaurus bataar. Fossils of Tarbosaurus, including complete skulls and skeletons, have been found in the Nemegt Formation in Mongolia and other places in Asia.
Tarbosaurus was a big predator. It could grow up to about 10 meters long and weighed between 4.5 to 5 tons! This dinosaur was bipedal, meaning it walked on two legs. Its arms were famously small compared to its body, with only two fingers on each hand. This unusual feature is the smallest arm size in all tyrannosaurs.
Though many species were first suggested for Tarbosaurus, scientists now only recognize Tarbosaurus bataar as the main species. Some experts even consider it to be similar to Tyrannosaurus rex and believe they might share a common ancestor. Tarbosaurus lived in a habitat filled with rivers, forests, and plains, preying on other large dinosaurs, like hadrosaurs and sauropods.
In the 1940s, a team of scientists discovered the first Tarbosaurus fossils during a joint expedition in the Gobi Desert. Initially named Tyrannosaurus bataar, the species was later renamed Tarbosaurus bataar. The fossils came from various sites, and a lot of hard work by paleontologists has helped increase our understanding of Tarbosaurus over the years.
Tarbosaurus had a large skull, and its teeth were sharp and strong. This dinosaur may have hunted and scavenged large dinosaurs for food. Studies show that Tarbosaurus had a strong bite, capable of crushing bones, much like its North American cousin.
Discoveries of Tarbosaurus fossils continued through joint expeditions, and the number of known specimens has risen significantly. Some fossils taken from Mongolia were illegally smuggled abroad but have since been returned.
Tarbosaurus also had unique features like locking jaws and strong bones, which helped it hunt large prey. Its brain structure suggests it had a good sense of smell and hearing, but perhaps not as great eyesight as some other dinosaurs, meaning it might have relied more on smell to locate food.
In summary, Tarbosaurus was a powerful dinosaur that ruled the land in what is now Mongolia, and our understanding of it has grown thanks to many exciting fossil discoveries!