Tyrannosaurus rex is the world鈥檚 favorite dinosaur, adored by the public and the subject of intense study and debate by paleontologists. This stunningly illustrated book brings together everything we have learned about T. rex鈥攖he 鈥淜ing of the Tyrant Lizards鈥濃�攕ince it was first given its famous name in 1905. It presents these creatures as science knows them rather than the version portrayed in movies, revealing them to be dramatically different, and far more amazing, than ever imagined. With numerous original paintings and diagrams by the author, King Tyrant draws on the latest discoveries to offer a modern understanding of Tyrannosaurus, pulling back the curtain of media hype that often obscures these extraordinary extinct animals while cementing their reputation as the most formidable carnivores of the Mesozoic.
- Features more than 150 breathtaking illustrations, photos, and diagrams
- Covers everything from the research history of T. rex to their anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, behavior, and extinction
- Reveals how the Tyrannosaurus known to science is characterized as much by radical changes in body form throughout its growth as its enormous size and powerful jaws
- Discloses details about their lifestyles and behavior evidenced from fossils, from violent face-biting between rivals to their capacity to literally pull the heads off Triceratops carcasses
- Gets to the bottom of the many controversies surrounding T. rex, such as: Was there really more than one species of Tyrannosaurus? Did they live and hunt in groups? How fast could they run and how hard could they bite? Can we truly distinguish males from females?
- Discusses T. rex in popular culture, showing how our love for this dinosaur has both helped and hindered research
Mark P. Witton is a paleontologist, author, and artist based at the University of Portsmouth. He designs and advises on extinct creatures for films and documentaries, including the hit Apple TV+ series Prehistoric Planet and the IMAX film T.REX, and his artwork is widely featured in books and museums around the world. His books include Pterosaurs: Natural History, Evolution, Anatomy (快色直播).
"Witton writes with expertise and enthusiasm in a way that is informative to both newbies and dinosaur aficionados. . . . The gorgeous illustrations in this well-cited summary and analysis make T. rex come alive for readers of all ages."鈥擟atherine Lantz, Library Journal
"[A[ beautiful new book."鈥擲teve Donoghue, Open Letters Review
"This book is a must-have."鈥擨an Paulsen, The Birdbooker Report
"The illustrations (in many instances Witton’s own work) are fabulous, from technical diagrams to photographs of museum specimens, and wonderful, fanciful recreations of life as it might have been in the age of the dinosaur. . . [A] magnus opus that is both educational and entertaining."鈥擠avid Gascoigne, Travels with Birds
"King Tyrant is an instant classic . . . . The book’s brilliant execution immediately lands it a spot in my top 5 for 2025. A compulsory buy for dinosaur enthusiasts, this book is also a valuable overview for professional palaeontologists and an inspirational example of what excellent science communication looks like."鈥擫eon Vlieger, The Inquisitive Biologist
"The most modern and authoritative treatment of T. rex available. Beautifully illustrated and incorporating an extraordinary number of sources, the book compiles a staggering amount of research."鈥擠avid E. Fastovsky, The Quarterly Review of Biology
"Well-rounded, thorough and extensive in its coverage of an animal for which a vast literature exists, and it presents scientific areas of uncertainty and debate well and fairly. It’s also exceptionally well designed and visually exceptional. [This] will function as the definitive work on the species for some time to come. It excels as a model of what volumes on the natural history of extinct animals can and should look like and I cannot recommend it enough."鈥擠arren Naish, Historical Biology
"Witton's writing and artistic skills, along with the undeniable allure of T.rex, turn a highly scientific book into a page turner. King Tyrant is bountiful with diagrams that detail T.rex anatomy, accompanied by charts, tables, and Witton's amazing artwork. . . . Highly Recommended."鈥�Choice
