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Description
During the Paleogene, Tyrannosaurids were the unquestioned lords of the apex predator niche in Laurasia. Although strangely absent from Europe, in Asia and North America the descendants of T.rex were a resounding success story. Little changed from their Cretaceous ancestors, imposing 12m long behemoths like Dynamotyrannus spent their days lurking on the edges of the thick, tropical forests that covered Middle Eocene Wyoming. While juveniles were highly cursorial, slender pursuit hunters, fully grown adults could only muster a brief but explosively powerful sprint in the direction of their preferred prey: weak or injured Hadrosaurs and Ceratopsians. If the unfortunate prey item could not escape, it would be dispatched by a tremendously brutal bite to the neck or flanks. In fact, Cenozoic Tyrannosaurids possessed even more powerful jaw muscles than their Cretaceous forebears, while at the same time developing stockier and thicker hind limbs. Studies have confirmed that Dynamotyrannus was slower than T.rex, with a maximum top speed of around 20mph and an overall weight of roughly 7.5 tons.

The reasons for these evolutionary developments seem to be tied to the spread of dense, tropical forests during the Paleogene. With increased ground cover, coupled with teeming herds of potential prey roaming the landscape, Tyrannosaurs simply had an easier time ambushing their next meal and could afford to pack on the pounds at the expense of a little speed. When conditions began to change during the Late Eocene in Asia, this would spell disaster for that continent's Tyrannosaurids, who would end up disappearing along with Hadrosaurs and Ceratopsids. In North America however, Tyrannosaurids managed to cling on and survive up until the Early Miocene. The individual above seems to be attempting to remove a piece of stringy Hadrosaur flesh from her teeth without much success.

Illustrated by the great Sheather888. Check out his art at sheather888.deviantart.com

Description
During the Paleogene, Tyrannosaurids were the unquestioned lords of the apex predator niche in Laurasia. Although strangely absent from Europe, in Asia and North America the descendants of T.rex were a resounding success story. Little changed from their Cretaceous ancestors, imposing 12m long behemoths like Dynamotyrannus spent their days lurking on the edges of the thick, tropical forests that covered Middle Eocene Wyoming. While juveniles were highly cursorial, slender pursuit hunters, fully grown adults could only muster a brief but explosively powerful sprint in the direction of their preferred prey: weak or injured Hadrosaurs and Ceratopsians. If the unfortunate prey item could not escape, it would be dispatched by a tremendously brutal bite to the neck or flanks. In fact, Cenozoic Tyrannosaurids possessed even more powerful jaw muscles than their Cretaceous forebears, while at the same time developing stockier and thicker hind limbs. Studies have confirmed that Dynamotyrannus was slower than T.rex, with a maximum top speed of around 20mph and an overall weight of roughly 7.5 tons.

The reasons for these evolutionary developments seem to be tied to the spread of dense, tropical forests during the Paleogene. With increased ground cover, coupled with teeming herds of potential prey roaming the landscape, Tyrannosaurs simply had an easier time ambushing their next meal and could afford to pack on the pounds at the expense of a little speed. When conditions began to change during the Late Eocene in Asia, this would spell disaster for that continent's Tyrannosaurids, who would end up disappearing along with Hadrosaurs and Ceratopsids. In North America however, Tyrannosaurids managed to cling on and survive up until the Early Miocene. The individual above seems to be attempting to remove a piece of stringy Hadrosaur flesh from her teeth without much success.

Illustrated by the great Sheather888. Check out his art at sheather888.deviantart.com