Last Thursday, March 30 at 11:30 p.m., a baby Tyrannosaurus rex (T-Rex) hatched at DinoTrek at Nashville Zoo. Weighing in at 352 pounds and measuring 7 feet in length, this baby dinosaur is now visible from the DinoTrek trail alongside its mother until the end of July.
The Tyrannosaurus rex belonged to the theropod family and lived over 68 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous period with fossils being found in Canada and the western United States. This species, also known as “king of the tyrant lizards” from the Latin translation, was the largest two-legged predator during its existence. Studies have shown that the T-rex reached full size in less than 20 years and was estimated to measure almost 40 feet in length weighing roughly six tons.
Guests can see the baby T-rex on the DinoTrek trail at Nashville Zoo that has more than 20 life-like animatronic dinosaurs. These Jurassic beasts can hiss, move, roar, growl and even spit water. Educational signs along the path allow all guests to learn more about the different species on display. DinoTrek will run until July 30. Admission to DinoTrek is $4 per person and children under 2 years old are free. Tickets are available for purchase at the Zoo’s Entry Village and near the entrance of the exhibit.
For more information, visit nashvillezoo.org.