The largest Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered, nicknamed 'Scotty,' suffered a devastating broken rib approximately 66 million years ago, according to new research that utilized advanced neutron imaging. The injury, sustained after an encounter with a triceratops, shows signs of the dinosaur's body attempting to heal, but the process was ultimately incomplete due to its death.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee employed powerful neutron imaging to create detailed three-dimensional reconstructions of Scotty's fossilized rib bone without causing damage. This technique allowed researchers to peer inside the bone and observe mineralized blood vessels, which form as the body attempts to repair fractures. These vessels indicate that Scotty's body was actively trying to mend the shattered rib, which was likely broken when a triceratops gored it during an attack.
"It's like winning the lottery," said Mauricio Barbi, a professor of physics at the University of Regina. "Scotty's rib contains a vast network of mineralized blood vessels that has never before been observed in a fossil."
Scotty, measuring 42 feet (12.8 meters) long and weighing up to an estimated 33,000 pounds (15,000 kg), is not only the largest but also the oldest T. rex discovered, living into its 30s. Its remains were found in Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1991. The unique preservation of the injury is attributed to Scotty's death in a salty marsh, which slowed decomposition and protected the delicate vascular structures.
Neutron imaging is particularly effective at detecting traces of soft tissue, such as blood vessels, which can be difficult to see with conventional X-rays. This non-destructive method provided an unprecedented look into the final events of the prehistoric predator's life.
Scotty's exceptionally long lifespan and robust build have led researchers to describe it as the "Rex of all Rexes." The dinosaur's name was inspired by a bottle of scotch consumed by scientists upon its discovery. Previous studies have also explored T. rex's locomotion, suggesting they could walk at speeds comparable to humans, and theorized about the evolutionary purpose of their famously short arms, with hypotheses ranging from reducing injury during feeding to aiding in mating or getting up after a fall. Additionally, research has indicated that T. rex possessed complex nerve sensors in its jaws, enabling it to discern different parts of its prey.