Natural World
When did Tyrannosaurus rex live?
Approximately 68 million BC
Tyrannosaurus rex appeared approximately 68 million BC.
1 BC · 1 AD
Estimated range: 68.5 million BC to 67 million BC
Context
What happened?
T. rex fossils come from Late Cretaceous rocks in western North America. The species is generally placed within the last few million years before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, so its first appearance is represented as an estimated range rather than an exact year.
Significance
Why it matters
T. rex was one of the last large non-avian dinosaurs and is among the best-represented large theropods in the fossil record. Its position close to the extinction boundary makes it a vivid marker for the final chapter of the dinosaur era.
Further reading
Sources
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