The Incredible Story of SUE: The Most Complete T. Rex Fossil

🦖SUE is an exceptionally complete T. rex fossil, with 250 out of the original 380 bones preserved.

🔬SUE's completeness has allowed scientists to study the anatomy, biomechanics, and daily life of T. rex.

🌋Volcanic eruptions and debris flows can protect dinosaur skeletons from being scattered or weathered, increasing the chances of preservation.

💡Smaller dinosaurs are more likely to be buried and preserved, as they require less sediment.

🔍Studying more common, less-complete fossils is necessary to understand how most dinosaurs died and decomposed.

How complete is SUE, the T. rex fossil?

—SUE is remarkably complete, with 250 out of the original 380 bones preserved.

What insights has SUE's completeness provided?

—SUE's completeness has allowed scientists to study the anatomy, biomechanics, and daily life of T. rex.

How are dinosaur skeletons typically preserved?

—Dinosaur skeletons are typically scattered and weathered due to factors like predators, scavengers, erosion, and geological changes.

What conditions can protect a dinosaur's skeleton from being lost to time?

—Volcanic eruptions or debris flows that bury dinosaurs immediately increase the chances of preservation.

Why is it important to study more common, less-complete fossils?

—Studying these fossils helps scientists understand how most dinosaurs died and decomposed.

00:00In 1990, fossil collectors in South Dakota discovered a remarkably complete T. rex fossil, now known as SUE.

01:45Most dinosaur fossils are incomplete due to factors like scavengers, flowing water, and weathering.

02:49SUE's completeness has provided valuable insights into the anatomy, biomechanics, and daily life of T. rex.

03:23Volcanic eruptions or debris flows that bury dinosaurs immediately increase the chances of preservation.

03:30Studying more common, less-complete fossils is necessary to understand how most dinosaurs died and decomposed.