FY24-ImpactReport-Digital - Flipbook - Page 8
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“This exhibition excelled in showing that this iconic dinosaur was a living, breathing
animal — not just a movie monster. By displaying life-sized, 昀氀uffy hatchling chicks,
awkward adolescents, and full-grown adults bearing a lifetime of healed injuries, the
exhibition allowed visitors to understand these animals and see Tyrannosaurus rex
and its kin in a far different and more relatable light.”
— Dr. Ron Tykoski
Vice President of Science and Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, Perot Museum
T. rex: The Ultimate Predator
F
or 10 months, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science
hosted T. rex: The Ultimate Predator, offering North
Texas visitors a fascinating glimpse into the reign of
history’s most formidable dinosaur before the exhibition’s
昀椀nal curtain in September 2024. This remarkable exhibition
allowed guests to explore the world’s most iconic dinosaur
through stunning life-sized models, intriguing fossil casts,
and engaging interactive elements.
Visitors experienced the evolution of the Tyrannosaurus
rex from its humble beginnings to its status as an apex
predator, examining how this fearsome hunter dominated
its competition through remarkable features, keen senses,
and specialized hunting abilities. The exhibition revealed
recent discoveries about tyrannosaur social behaviors
and explored the tyrannosaur family tree, which includes
dozens of species spanning 100 million years.
Through cutting-edge technology and scienti昀椀cally
accurate reconstructions, guests came face-to-face
with some of the most accurate T. rex models ever
constructed, gaining insight into how paleontologists
study fossil specimens to understand the biology and
behavior of these magni昀椀cent creatures.
Presented on loan from the American Museum of Natural
History in New York and supported by local partners,
this traveling exhibition had a North Texas connection:
Local fossils reveal that tyrannosaur family members
once roamed the Dallas-Fort Worth area approximately
96 million years ago. Visitors could also view authentic
tyrannosaur leg bones discovered in Big Bend National
Park, which are currently displayed on the Perot
Museum’s fourth 昀氀oor.
Supported by
8 | Perot Museum of Nature and Science
