Why T.rex Shouldn't Have Been Called T.rex

The name Tyrannosaurus rex is absolutely iconic, evoking images of a powerful, ancient predator, the king of the tyrant lizards. But, if you go back and examine the earliest discoveries of this legendary animal, it turns out that this shouldn’t technically have been its name at all.

Social Media:

Sources:

Art:
FredtheDinosaurman (Thumbnail)
Mark Witton
Dinosaurs in the Wild
John Sibbick
Smithsonian Institution
RJ Palmer
Julius Csotonyi
Chris Srnka
Cisiopurple
MattMart
John Conway
Greg Paul
Daitengu
Monopteryx
Damir G Martin

[MikeUman]

Changing the name of the T. Rex would lead to the downfall of civilization, or, might even open a Black Hole in The Smithsonian Museum ultimately destroying this entire area of the galaxy. One simply does not rename T. Rex without incurring serious penalties...

[shockal]

'How fast are they?'
'Well we clocked the Manospondylus gigas at 32 miles per hour'
'...do you-.. M-gigas..you said you have a m.gigas?'
'say again?'

'... we have a Manospondylus gigas!'

[koolnomi]

Just proves that zoology and palaeontology aren't immune from the age old argument of "but it's just so much cooler!"

[GrahamCStrouse]

Basilosaurus: “Hey, what about me? I’ma whale, goddammit!”

[zennyfieldster]

At least give the older name to another recently discovered dinosaur that has no name yet. It still sounds awesome!

[maxgreece]

I'm saving Tyrannosaurus Max for something really big....

[AmanRishitwenty]

T-Rex is most iconic dinosaur so they're not changing it any time.

[invisiblejaguar]

Maybe in a parallel universe, we call it M. Gigas.I'm imagining John Hammond saying it now.

[chaoticiannunez]

"They're approaching the Manospondylus paddock".

[dorkthrone]

It's awesome to know that the "rule of cool" also applies to paleontology.

[dirandrous]

i still like Tyrannosaurus rex
its the iconic name that i grew up with, if they change it
my heart, memories will shatter and tears will drop

[JRex-youm]

To be honest I feel like these two left over names for T Rex should be saved for maybe two new dinosaurs in the future that's just my opinon?

[thatdutchguy]

Well, back then they couldn't have imagined that there would be 5 bigger ones.

[joshuaashby]

Thank goodness! Manospondylus gigas is hard to take seriously!

[jamesdunn]

Informative video and interesting to those of us that are dinosaur lovers. The photos emphasize T. Rex's forward facing birdlike eyes. This animal was a predator through and through regardless of Horner's claims that it was only a scavenger, although I have no doubt it scavenged too.

[Bonesters]

now someone just needs to name a related species Manospondylus Gigas.

[fishjourney]

Honestly thought this was going to be about how a bigger dino fitted the name better or something absurd and personal... I was wrong... this is fantastic and I honestly learnt something. Well done and keep it up I'll sub right away!

[mr.knightthedetective]

My name for T-rex would be "Megalosagoniosaurus" which roughly translates to "Big Jawed Lizard..."

[mariahgreen]

Thanks for this video! Love learning about the interesting history of T. rex's name. I'm glad they let T. rex remain instead of M. gigas.

[finnmaccool]

I'll just go ahead and keep calling him Tyrannosaurus Rex. If you don't mind.