The T-Rex Who Was Still Growing

About this drawing

A young T-Rex did not look much like the giant you see in museums. It hatched from an egg, about the size of a small turkey. It had long, skinny legs and could run much faster than its parents. You'd never guess it would become a monster-sized adult!

For the first few years, it grew at a slow pace. Then came the teen years, and wow, what a growth spurt! Between about 14 and 18 years old, a T-Rex could pack on hundreds of pounds in a single year. It must have been hungry all the time, just like a teenager raiding the fridge.

While it was small, a young T-Rex probably hunted different animals than the adults did. It was quick and nimble, so it could chase smaller prey. Its teeth were thinner, more like blades. The thick, bone-crushing teeth came later on.

It took about 20 years to become fully grown, and few lived much past 30. Growing up wasn't easy, because the world was full of danger for a youngster. The ones that made it became the most feared animals around. Still, every single one started out small and curious, a lot like kids on a playground.

• dinosaurs
• t-rex
• growing up
• elementary