Stan (dinosaur)

Stan
Catalog number BHI 3033
Common name Stan
Species Tyrannosaurus rex
Age between 67 and 65.5 million years
Date discovered 1987
Discovered by Stan Sacrison

Stan is the nickname given to a fossil of the dinosaur species Tyrannosaurus rex. It was found in Hell Creek Formation, South Dakota, close to Buffalo in 1987 by Stan Sacrison, who also discovered the Tyrannosaurus specimen nicknamed "Duffy". The original fossils are now housed at Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, Inc. center. It is a well known specimen, and one of the most complete,[1] with 199 bones recovered.[2] About 30 casts of the original fossil has been sold worldwide, each for a price of about $100 000.[3][4] Stan measures 40.1 feet long, and 12 feet over the hips.

Contents

Displays

Casts of Stan’s skeleton can be found in many displays around the world. A cast can be found at Manchester Museum, and it has also been at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis together with the Tyrannosaurus specimen "Bucky" and the Triceratops "Kesley",[5] as well as New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science[6] and Houston Museum of Natural Science and at Disney World. Other casts are located at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, and in the refurbished Natural Science galleries of the National Museums Scotland

Research

When BBC tested the power of Tyrannosaurus jaws in their program The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs (2005), the hydraulic skull model was based on Stan. Gregory Erickson estimated the bite power, based on the power of a modern alligator, and came to the conclusion that Tyrannosaurus would have had a bite force of about 3 tonnes, or 40,000 Newtons. Stan has also been used for studies involving restoration of dinosaurs body mass and study on how they could have moved.[7][8]

Bone damage

Like many other fossils of Tyrannosaurus rex, the skeleton of Stan shows many broken and healed bones. These include broken ribs and damages in the skull. One of the most prominent injuries are in the neck and the skull. A piece of bone is missing at the rear, and the skull also bears a hole 1 inch wide, probably made by another Tyrannosaurus. Also, two of the cervical vertebrae are fused, and another has additional bone growth. This could have been caused by another Tyrannosaurus bite. The bite marks are healed, indicating that Stan survived the wounds.[9] Stan could also have been infected by Trichomonas-like parasites.[10]

References

  1. ^ Many sources says that "Stan" is the second most complete specimen, except for "Sue" (FMNH PR 2081). Some sources say that "Stan" are complete to about 65 % [1], other claim it is complete to abot 70 % [2].
  2. ^ The Manchester Museum's homepage: "Stan the Tyrannosaurus rex".
  3. ^ Sign On San Diego"New Mexico museum has funds for half a T. rex", 26 February 2006.
  4. ^ Get Cynical: "T-Rex Replica Skeletons for Sale", 21 July 2008.
  5. ^ Children's Museum of Indianapolis's homepage: General information.
  6. ^ Santa Fe New Mexican: "Rare T. rex footprints in New Mexico help round out picture of prehistoric giant", 12 July 2009.
  7. ^ Bates K.T, Hodgetts D, Manning P. L & Sellers W. I, "Estimating Mass Properties of Dinosaurs Using Laser Imaging and 3D Computer Modelling", Public Library of Science Journals, 19 February 2009.
  8. ^ photonics: "T.rex or T. anorex?", 20 February 2009.
  9. ^ New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science homepage: "T. REX ATTACK!".
  10. ^ Horner J.R, Wolff E.D.S et.al, "Common Avian Infection Plagued Tyrant Dinosaurs", Public Library of Science Journals.

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