Friday, March 4, 2011

New artwork IV: Tyrannosaurus rex maxilla

For quite a while I've wanted to draw a theropod maxilla. They're pretty neat looking elements, and tyrannosaurid maxillae at that are pretty rugose, and have some interesting textures. I did this drawing once I got back from New York earlier in the month. I'm very happy with this piece, and it isn't very big - maybe 8" wide.
Here's a quiz: what's important about this specimen? The specimen # is UCMP 118742.

8 comments:

Doug said...

can't be part of the Wankel rex (database doesn't say it's a cast). Is it a juvenile? Or does it have to do with that paper that was just published?

Robert Boessenecker said...

It's not wankel (which is an MOR specimen) and it's not a juvenile (far from it). I believe it was described in a paper long long ago in a galaxy far far away.

Doug said...

*waves the white flag*

Robert Boessenecker said...

Here's a hint: Greg Paul once wrote something about it in a book.

Doug said...

um... only of his books i have says it may represent the largest T. rex yet found.

Anonymous said...

the maxilla is 895mm base on your drawing and larson's measurement, that is about 40mm longer than FMNH PR 2081, suggest a Skull length of 160cm, and likely the second or third largest tyrannosaurus rex in the world
the largest appears to be UCMP 137538 for moment, with MOR 1152, MOR 008, UCMP 118742, MOR 1126 competiting for the second place

Robert Boessenecker said...

Looks like we have a paleo Rain Man here...!

Louis Varricchio said...

Hi, Very interesting. Are there actual photos of UCMP 118742 anywhere? All I see are the resin replicas online. Also, I am not sure where the real McCoy ended up?