Sue (dinosaur)
Catalog no. | FMNH PR 2081 |
---|---|
Common name | Sue |
Species | Tyrannosaurus rex |
Age | about 67 million years[1] |
Place discovered | Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, South Dakota, U.S. |
Date discovered | August 12, 1990 |
Discovered by | Susan Hendrickson |
Sue[a] is the nickname given to FMNH PR 2081, which is one of the largest,[b] most extensive, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex specimens ever found, at over 90 percent recovered by bulk.[4] FMNH PR 2081 was discovered on August 12, 1990,[5] by American explorer and fossil collector Sue Hendrickson, and was named after her.
After ownership disputes were settled, the fossil was auctioned in October 1997 for US$8.3 million, the highest amount ever paid for a dinosaur fossil until October 7, 2020 when T. rex Stan was auctioned for US $31.8 million. Sue is now a permanent feature at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois.[6]
Discovery
During the summer of 1990, a group of workers from the
However, a flat tire was discovered on their truck before the group could depart on August 12.[7][8] While the rest of the group went into town to repair the truck, Sue Hendrickson decided to explore the nearby cliffs that the group had not checked. As she was walking along the base of a cliff, she discovered some small pieces of bone.
She looked above her to see where the bones had originated, and observed larger bones protruding from the wall of the cliff. She returned to camp with two small pieces of the bones and reported the discovery to the president of the Black Hills Institute, Peter Larson.[9] He determined that the bones were from a T. rex by their distinctive contour and texture. Later, closer examination of the site showed many visible bones above the ground and some articulated vertebrae.[10][page needed]
The crew ordered extra plaster and, although some of the crew had to depart, Hendrickson and a few other workers began to uncover the bones. The group was excited, as it was evident that much of the dinosaur had been preserved. Previously discovered T. rex skeletons were usually missing over half of their bones.[10]
It was later determined that Sue was a record 90 percent complete by bulk,[11] and 73 percent complete counting the elements.[12] Of the 360 known T. rex bones, around 250 have been recovered.[1] Scientists believe that this specimen was covered by water and mud soon after its death, which prevented other animals from carrying away the bones.[13][page needed] Additionally, the rushing water mixed the skeleton together.
When the fossil was found, the hip bones were above the skull and the leg bones were intertwined with the ribs. The large size and the excellent condition of the bones were also surprising. The skull was 1,394 mm (54.9 in) long, and most of the teeth were still intact. After the group completed excavating the bones, each block was covered in
Dispute and auction
Soon after the fossils were found, a dispute arose over their legal ownership. The Black Hills Institute had obtained permission from the owner of the land, Maurice Williams, to excavate and remove the skeleton, and had paid Williams US$5,000 for the remains.[14]
Williams later claimed that the money had not been for the sale of the fossil and that he had only allowed Larson to remove and clean the fossil for a later sale.[10][page needed] Williams was a member of the Sioux tribe, and the tribe claimed the bones belonged to them. However, the property where the fossil had been found was held in trust by the United States Department of the Interior.
In 1992, the FBI and the South Dakota National Guard raided the site where the Black Hills Institute had been cleaning the bones and seized the fossil,[15] charging Larson on 158 points. The government transferred the remains to the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, where the skeleton was stored until the penal and civil legal disputes were settled. The United States Senate voted to not confirm the appointment of Kevin Schieffer as United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota after his controversial handling of the penal case.
In 1996, Larson was sentenced to a two-year prison sentence involving customs violations unrelated to Sue. After a lengthy civil case, the court decreed that Maurice Williams retained ownership.[16]
Williams then decided to sell the remains and contracted with
The
Preparation
Once the preparators finished removing the matrix from each bone, it was sent to the museum's photographer who made high-quality photographs. From there, the museum's paleontologists began the study of the skeleton. In addition to photographing and studying each bone, the research staff also arranged for
Life and death
Bone damage
Close examination of the bones revealed that Sue was 28 years old at the time of death—the oldest T. rex known until
Multiple holes in the front of the skull were originally thought to be either from a bacterial infection or bite marks by some other tyrannosaur. A subsequent study found these to be areas of parasitic infection instead, possibly from an infestation of an ancestral form of Trichomonas gallinae, a protozoan parasite that infests birds and ultimately leads to death by starvation due to internal swelling of the neck.[25][26] Damage to the back end of the skull was interpreted early on as a fatal bite wound. Subsequent study by Field Museum paleontologists found no bite marks. The distortion and breakage seen in some of the bones in the back of the skull was likely caused by post-mortem trampling. Some of the tail vertebrae are fused in a pattern typical of arthritis due to injury. The animal is also believed to have suffered from gout.[27] Scholars debate exactly how the animal died; the cause of death is ultimately unknown.[10][page needed]
Size
Sue has a length of 12.3–12.4 meters (40.4–40.7 ft) along the centra, stands 3.66–3.96 meters (12–13 ft) tall at the hips, and has been estimated at between 8.4–14 metric tons (9.26–15.4
Exhibition
After the bones were prepared, photographed and studied, they were sent to New Jersey where work began on making the mount. This work consists of bending steel to support each bone safely and to display the entire skeleton articulated as it was in life. The real skull was not incorporated into the mount as subsequent study would be difficult with the head 4 m (13 ft) off the ground. Parts of the skull had been crushed and broken and thus appeared distorted. This also provides scientists with easier access to the skull as they continue to study it.[36] The museum made a cast of the skull, and altered this cast to remove the distortions, thus approximating what the original undistorted skull may have looked like. The cast skull was also lighter, allowing it to be displayed on the mount without the use of a steel upright under the head. The original skull is exhibited in a case that can be opened to allow researchers access for study. Originally, the Field Museum had plans to incorporate Sue into their preexisting dinosaur exhibit on the second floor, but had little left in their budget to do so after purchasing it. Instead, the T. rex was put on display near the entrance on the first floor of the museum where it would remain for the next 18 years.[37]
Sue was unveiled on May 17, 2000, with more than 10,000 visitors.[38] John Gurche, a paleoartist, painted a mural of a Tyrannosaurus for the exhibit.[39]
New suite (2019)
In early 2018, Sue was dismantled and moved to its own gallery in the Evolving Planet exhibit hall.[41] Opened on December 21, 2018,[42] the reassembly is intended to reflect the newest scientific theories, as well include the proper furcula and attachment of the gastralia to the rest of the skeleton.[43][44][45] The new, 5,100 square-foot exhibit includes animated videos of Sue that are projected in 6K onto nine-foot tall panes behind its skeleton.[46][36][47] Atlantic Productions worked with the Field Museum, as well as Chicago's Adler Planetarium, to create multiple animated sequences, including Sue scavenging an Ankylosaurus carcass, battling a Triceratops, and hunting an Edmontosaurus.[47] According to the Field Museum's curator of dinosaurs, paleontologist Pete Makovicky, the suite was designed to accentuate the size and stature of Sue, and although smaller, the exhibit allows for a more intimate display of the T. rex,[48] along with the skull of a Triceratops and other Cretaceous period artifacts, such as shark teeth and pachycephalosaurid bones. Sue's real skull is studied so often that it is kept in a separate display in the exhibition.[36][49][47]
Tyrannosaurus imperator debate
In a 2022 study, Gregory S. Paul and colleagues argued that Tyrannosaurus rex, as traditionally understood, actually represents three species: the type species Tyrannosaurus rex, and two new species: T. imperator (meaning "tyrant lizard emperor") and T. regina (meaning "tyrant lizard queen"). The
However, several other leading paleontologists, including
In the media
A 1997 episode of the
Director Todd Miller's documentary Dinosaur 13, which is about Sue's discovery and subsequent legal actions, appeared at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.[57]
In 2015, an episode of NPR's Planet Money discussed the acquisition of Sue from a financial and legal perspective.[58]
The
Sue was featured in the
The show Dinosaurs: Inside and Out extensively discussed Sue and mentioned they succumbed to a fatal bite to the back of the head by another T. rex.
Sue was the subject of a 2000 educational computer game called "I See SUE," which was published by Simon and Schuster Interactive.[62]
See also
- Big John (dinosaur)
- Black Beauty (dinosaur)
- Dippy
- Jane (dinosaur)
- Peck's Rex
- Specimens of Tyrannosaurus
- Stan (dinosaur)
- Timeline of tyrannosaur research
- Trix (dinosaur)
- List of dinosaur specimens sold at auction
Notes
References
- ^ a b c "Sue the T. Rex". Field Museum. February 5, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ PMID 30897281.
- ^ Lyle, Andrew (March 22, 2019). "Paleontologists identify biggest Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered". Folio, University of Alberta. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- ^ "Unearthing the Secrets of Sue: Educators Guide" (PDF). The Field Museum (Second ed.). pp. 3, 52. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
- ^ Harrod, Horatia (August 9, 2014). "The Curse of the $8 million dinosaur". Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Sue at The Field Museum". The Field Museum. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- ISBN 0-7167-4017-6. Chapter 1 "It must be a T.rex".
- ^ Wright, Tommy: Unveiling Sue Archived April 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on April 9, 2007
- ^ "T. rex dig goes online" (PDF). unearthingtrex.com. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- ^ a b c d Larson, Peter; Donnan, Kristin (2002). Rex Appeal.[page needed]
- ^ The Field Museum. "Unearthing the Secrets of Sue: Educator Guide" (PDF) (Second ed.). pp. 3, 52. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
- ^ Larson, P (2008). "One Hundred Years of Tyrannosaurus rex: The Skeletons". In Larson; Carpenter (eds.). Tyrannosaurus rex: The Tyrant King. Indiana University Press.[page needed]
- ^ a b c Relf, Pat (2000). A Dinosaur Named Sue: The Story of the Colossal Fossil.[page needed]
- ^ Cherry, Miriam: A T-Rex Named Sue Archived April 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on April 9, 2007
- ^ Cataldo, Rosie: Digging for dollars Archived February 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on April 9, 2007
- ^ "The T. rex that got away: Smithsonian's quest for Sue ends with different dinosaur". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ Monastersky, Richard: For the Sake of Sue Archived December 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on December 6, 2007
- ^ Poling, Jeff: Reserving "Sue" Archived December 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on December 6, 2007
- ^ Hoganson, John W. (Summer–Fall 1998). "The Selling of the Tyrannosaurus rex Named "Sue": Its Effect on North Dakota's Fossil Resource Management Program" (PDF). NDGS Newsletter. Vol. 25, no. 2. pp. 14–17.
- ^ "Tyrannosaurus Sue". www.factmonster.com.
- ^ Freedom du Lac, J. (April 5, 2014). "The T. rex that got away: Smithsonian's quest for Sue ends with different dinosaur". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
- ^ Lee, William: Dissecting a Dinosaur Mummy Archived December 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on January 2, 2008
- ^ Rothschild, B.; Tanke, D. H.; Ford, T. L. (2001). "Theropod stress fractures and tendon avulsions as a clue to activity". In Tanke, D. H.; Carpenter, K. (eds.). Mesozoic Vertebrate Life. Indiana University Press. pp. 331–336.
- PMID 33144637.
- PMID 19789646.
- ^ Johnson, John Jr. (September 30, 2009). "Throat infection may have brought down T. rex". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- S2CID 1360596.
- ^ a b Hartman, Scott (July 7, 2013). "Mass estimates: North vs South redux". Scott Hartman's Skeletal Drawing.com. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
- ^ Holtz, T. R. (2011). "Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages, Winter 2011 Appendix" (PDF). Retrieved January 13, 2012.
- ^ "Sue Fact Sheet" (PDF). Sue at the Field Museum. Field Museum of Natural History. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 18, 2016.
- ^ "How well do you know SUE?". Field Museum of Natural History. August 11, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
- PMID 22022500.
- S2CID 4404887.
- ^ a b "Sue's vital stats". The Field Museum.
- ^ "Sue Press Release". Field Museum of Natural History. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
- ^ a b c Johnson, Steve (December 18, 2018). "First look: Sue's new digs at the Field Museum are smaller, but much more T. rexy". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ "A Look Inside Sue the T. Rex's New 'Private Suite' at The Field Museum". WTTW News. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ Hartman, Holly: Tyrannosaurus Sue, Retrieved on April 9, 2007
- ^ "Local artist honored for T-rex painting". Denver Post. November 12, 2000. A42.
- ^ "A Fresh Science Makeover for SUE". Field Museum. November 30, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ Johnson, Steve; Geib, Phil (February 5, 2018). "The Dismantling of Sue". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
- ^ Johnson, Steve (November 12, 2018). "Sue's New Digs at Field Museum Will Open Dec. 21". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ a b "I (SUE the T. rex) am moving to my own place and all y'all are invited". Field Museum. January 30, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
- ^ Johnson, Steve (December 18, 2018). "First Look: Sue's New Digs at the Field Museum Are Smaller, But Much More T. Rexy". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
- ^ Bauer, Kelly (December 18, 2018). "Sue the T. Rex Is Back at the Field Museum with a Huge New Suite". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
- ^ "Sue the T. rex – now with more bones! – goes back on display in new digs". Chicago Sun-Times. December 18, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ a b c "A Look Inside Sue the T. Rex's New 'Private Suite' at The Field Museum". WTTW News. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ "Sue, the world-famous T. rex, gets a new lair in Chicago". Reuters. December 18, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ "SUE The T. Rex Says Goodbye To Her Skull". February 12, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- S2CID 247200214.
- ^ a b Elbein, Asher (February 28, 2022). "They Want to Break T. Rex into 3 Species. Other Paleontologists Aren't Pleased". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
- ^ Hunt, Katie (March 1, 2022). "Tyrannosaurus rex may have been misunderstood". CNN.
- ^ Greshko, Michael (March 1, 2022). "Call to split T. rex into 3 species sparks fierce debate". National Geographic. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022.
- ^ Carr T.D., Napoli J.G., Brusatte S.L., Holtz T.R., Hone D.W.E., Williamson T.E. & Zanno L.E. (2022). "Insufficient Evidence for Multiple Species of Tyrannosaurus in the Latest Cretaceous of North America: A Comment on "The Tyrant Lizard King, Queen and Emperor: Multiple Lines of Morphological and Stratigraphic Evidence Support Subtle Evolution and Probable Speciation Within the North American Genus Tyrannosaurus"”. Evolutionary Biology 49(3): p. 314-341: doi.org/10.1007/s11692-022-09573-1
- ^ "Nova: January – December 1997". PBS. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
- ^ Gliatto, Tom (February 24, 1997), "Picks and Pans Review: Nova: Curse of T. Rex", People, vol. 47, no. 7, retrieved August 12, 2015
- ^ Means, Sean, "Sundance Film Festival: The 67 titles announced in competition categories, Next program". Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
- ^ Smith, Stacey Vanek (October 30, 2015). "Episode 660: The T-Rex in My Backyard". Planet Money (Podcast). NPR.
- ^ a b Russell, Jesse (September 11, 2017). "Reports of SUE The T. Rex's Twitter Extinction Greatly Exaggerated". UpOut. Chicago. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ Volpe, Theresa (February 6, 2018). "Sue the T. rex goes nonbinary". Windy City Times. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ISBN 0-451-46027-8.
- ^ Simon & Schuster Interactive, I SEE SUE – The T. Rex (2000), retrieved February 20, 2023
- ISBN 978-0-226-19275-8.
- ^ Donald, Elizabeth (February 4, 2018). "Field Museum T. rex SUE making way for bigger dinosaur". Journal Star. Peoria, IL. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
Further reading
- Brochu, Christopher A. (2003). "Osteology of Tyrannosaurus Rex: Insights from a nearly complete Skeleton and High-Resolution Computed Tomographic Analysis of the Skull". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 22 (4, Supplement): 1–138. S2CID 84716109.
- Dussias, Allison (January 1, 1996). "Science, Sovereignty, and the Sacred Text: Paleontological Resources and Native American Rights". Maryland Law Review. 55 (1): 84.
- ISBN 978-0-226-19275-8.
- Lazerwitz, David (April 1, 1994). "Bones of Contention: The Regulation of Paleontological Resources on The Federal Public Lands". Indiana Law Journal. 69 (2).
External links
Media related to Sue (Tyrannosaurus specimen FMNH PR2081) at Wikimedia Commons
- Sue at the Field Museum
- The Story of a Dinosaur Named SUE at the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research