Canadian T-Rex Declared Largest In World 28 Years After Discovery

Nearly three decades after being discovered, the fossilized remains of a Tyrannosaurus rex have officially been declared the largest in the world. The massive creature died around 66 million years ago in the ancient region now known as the Canadian province Saskatchewan, where paleontologists uncovered the skeleton in 1991. The T-rex has been nicknamed 'Scotty,' and it may have weighed more than 19,400lbs when it was alive.

Though the T-rex skeleton was discovered in 1991, it was encased in hard sandstone that took experts years to remove. After spending more than a decade tediously removing the sandstone, paleontologists spent years assembling the pieces, producing the final structure that could — 28 years later — reveal the monumental nature of this discovery.

According to an announcement from the University of Alberta, 'Scotty' the dinosaur measured approximately 42ft in length during its life, which lasted around 30 years before the creature died from unknown causes. Experts describe that estimated lifespan as unusually long for a Tyrannosaurus rex.

Marks observed on the bones indicate the creature suffered and healed from multiple large injuries during its apparently violent life, including a jaw infection, broken ribs, and what may have been a bite from another large dinosaur on Scotty's tail. As of now, this creature is the largest terrestrial predator ever discovered.

The public will have a chance to see the fossilized skeleton starting in May — the Royal Saskatchewan Museum will present the assembled remains in a new exhibit. A perfect replica of Scotty was first debuted back in March 2015.