The Tyrannosaurus rex’s reputation as a predator is built on its size and powerful jaws. A key element of its prowess was its bite force, which is the amount of pressure an animal can generate. This force allowed T. rex to dominate its environment and reveals much about its hunting capabilities.
Measuring an Extinct Bite
Determining the bite force of an animal extinct for 66 million years is difficult, as muscles do not fossilize. Scientists begin with the massive and robust skulls of T. rex, which provide the foundation for analysis. Researchers use technologies like CT scans to create detailed three-dimensional digital models of the skulls, allowing them to map the bone’s internal architecture.
These digital models are used to reconstruct the jaw musculature. By studying marks on the fossilized bones where muscles attached, scientists infer the size and placement of jaw-closing muscles. They compare the anatomy to living relatives like crocodilians and birds to inform these reconstructions. Anatomical features, like the fused nasal bones that created a rigid structure, are also factored into the models.
With the digital model and reconstructed muscles complete, biomechanical simulations calculate the potential bite force. This process involves estimating the cross-sectional area of the muscles to determine their strength. Simulating muscle contractions produces a reliable estimate of the maximum force the jaws could generate.
The Force of the Bite
Scientific estimates place the T. rex’s bite force at around 8,000 pounds, or 34,522 Newtons, equivalent to the weight of three small cars. Some studies have produced higher figures, with maximum estimates reaching nearly 12,800 pounds. The pressure exerted by its individual teeth was calculated at up to 431,000 pounds per square inch.
This power gave the T. rex the ability to crush solid bone. Bite marks found on the fossilized remains of prey like Triceratops and hadrosaurs confirm this behavior. Pulverizing bone was a feeding advantage, allowing the T. rex to access the nutrient-rich marrow inside. This strategy provided a food source unavailable to smaller predators.
Bite Force Comparisons
The T. rex’s bite was more than twice as powerful as that of a saltwater crocodile, which at 3,700 pounds has the strongest measured bite of any living animal. Other predators like lions and great white sharks generate significantly less force.
While its bite was the strongest of any known land animal, it may have been surpassed by extinct aquatic creatures like the ancient crocodilian Deinosuchus, estimated to have a bite of 23,000 pounds. The T. rex’s combination of size, speed, and a bone-shattering bite secured its place as a dominant terrestrial predator.