Mega Rex: A Tyrannosaurus Named Scotty

While accompanying a fossil-hunting expedition in 1991, Robert Gebhardt, a Saskatchewan school teacher and dinosaur enthusiast, discovered “Scotty”, the largest mega t-rex ever found. Though 35% of the skeleton was never found, it took 23 years to excavate Scotty’s bones and to prepare its skeleton for study. Mega Rex: A Tyrannosaurus Named Scotty not only discusses the amazing discovery of Scotty, the characteristics of tyrannosaurids and the environment in which they lived, but it also highlights the specialized work of each of the members of the paleontology group. Some members are experts in the excavation and preparation of dinosaur skeletons while others are model makers, artists, brain and bone histology experts, and examiners of fossilized plant life and coprolites. Their collective work helps people to understand more about what dinosaurs looked like and how they behaved. However, the author, a well-known paleontologist himself, admits that paleontologists don’t have all the answers and that paleontology is an evolving study.

Divided into four main chapters, the book features the evolution of tyrannosauroids, their prey and their enemies, and dispels some of the myths surrounding the t-rex (one example being that the tyrannosaurus did not make a loud noise when walking as its footfalls were softened by footpads on the bottom of its feet). For the most part, the text is easy to comprehend, though occasionally the information is a bit too detailed for the lower range of the target audience and is best suited to the diehard dinosaur aficionado. Specifically, the author discusses genus and species and introduces such terms as binomials, specific epithets, and the difference between tyrannosaurids and tyrannosauroids. (In some paragraphs, both of these latter terms are used frequently, adding to the reader’s confusion.)

Abundant illustrations consist of colour photographs, charts, drawings and diagrams (an excellent diagram of a tyrannosaurus skeleton with all of the bones labeled appears on the inside covers). Though all of these are impressive and helpful to readers, what stands out are the expertly rendered illustrations by paleoartist Beth Zaiken. A table of contents, a glossary and an index are also included.

Thorough, detailed and well-researched, Mega Rex: A Tyrannosaurus Named Scotty will captivate dinosaur enthusiasts with its engaging text and well-chosen illustrations.