We used to believe that Tyrannosaurus rex wasn’t a good kisser. This idea was based on popular depictions of the dinosaur, which portrayed it as having a mouth full of menacing teeth. However, a recent study published in the journal Science challenges this notion. The study suggests that T. rex and other theropod dinosaurs may have actually had lips and other soft tissues surrounding their teeth.
When paleoartists draw pictures of theropod dinosaur mouths, they often compare them to the mouths of alligators and crocodiles, with their large, protruding teeth. However, the researchers behind this study have found that the ratio of tooth size to skull length in T. rex is more similar to that of lizards like the komodo dragon. This suggests that T. rex teeth could have been covered by lips.
To support their theory, the researchers also compared the teeth of a close relative of T. rex, called Daspletosaurus, with those of an American alligator. They found that the alligator’s teeth showed signs of wear on the outer side, while the Daspletosaurus teeth did not. This indicates that the dinosaur’s teeth may have been protected by lips. Additionally, certain features of theropod dinosaur skulls resemble those of lipped lizards like iguanas, further supporting the idea of lips.
However, not all paleontologists agree with this interpretation. Some scholars argue that the snouts of theropod dinosaurs were tough, scaly, and lacked soft tissue, resembling crocodile snouts. The debate about whether T. rex had lips or not continues, highlighting the challenges of drawing conclusions based on incomplete fossil data.
This is not the first time that our understanding of T. rex’s appearance has been revised. In the past, paleontologists and artists often depicted the dinosaur with lips during the 1920s and ’30s. The true appearance of T. rex, including whether it was feathered like its smaller relative Dilong paradoxus, remains a mystery until more evidence is uncovered.
While American alligators can grow and replace thousands of teeth in their lifetime, it took T. rex around two years to replace a single lost tooth. This reinforces the unique nature of these iconic dinosaurs and their dental structure.