Although appearing in all the Jurassic Park films, this T. rex isn’t a copy. In fact, this specimen is significant because it is the exact opposite—a holotype of the species. A holotype is a specimen upon which a given species is based. In other words, Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s T. rex is the “gold standard” to which all potential fossils of this notorious meat-eater must forever be compared. Contrary to the movie titles, T. rex roamed the western United States and southwestern Canada during the late Cretaceous Period.
For more insights like these, attend our Jurassic Park After Dark event and watch Jurassic Park with our dinosaur expert. You will even be able to pick his brain about the likelihood of Jurassic Park becoming a reality.