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Description
This was originally intended (and partly still is) as a quick reference for an upcoming piece with "Sue" that I am planning, but while drawing it (for the third time), I decided to use it to showcase my current opinions on the integument of Tyrannosaurus. So first off, I have taken into account the skin impressions described by Bell et al. that have been causing such a buzz lately. Short version, they're not new, and they represent only a very small portion of the animal's body (in most cases a few centimetres), however I am still happy to see them finally published (though it is a bit tainted by having to deal with people finding a bunch of poorly researched news articles saying that these skin impressions prove Tyrannosaurus was fully scaly). The feathering in this reconstruction is organized around the few skin impressions known which show scales, though note that since feathers can and do grow between scales in multiple animals (Anchiornis, owls, ptarmigan, etc.), the feathering could indeed have been more extensive than what I have chosen to do here.

The facial integument was partly influenced by Carr et al. 2017 and their conclusion that tyrannosaurids possessed some sort of unique facial integument (though I, like many others, am not convinced of the presence of crocodilian like integument), as well as thickened keratin on the nasals, lacriminals, postorbitals, and ventral dentary. The extent of said keratin and thickened skin on the face was largely influenced by Mark Witton's new post on armoured theropod faces and how they could alter the shape of the head in the living animal from the skull. I also added raised ridges on the side of the face as associated with the strange maxillary features noticed on some Tyrannosaurus skulls by WitmerLab. The throat is influenced by the throat pouch that was described in a specimen of T. bataar, before the skin impressions were frustratingly destroyed by fossil poachers.

Lastly, as I said before, this is meant to represent the specimen FMNH PR 2081, or "Sue", the largest and most complete T. rex specimen yet found, as well as one of the oldest (after "Tristan" and "Scotty"). As such, I attempted to also depict some of the many ailments and pathologies we know this animal had, such as an infection in the left fibula and gout. The liquid dripping from her mouth is the thick, cheesy fluid that forms in the throat of birds infected with Trichomonas gallinae, which Sue, like many tyrannosaur specimens, appears to have suffered from due to lesions in her jaw. This often makes it very difficult for the afflicted animal to breathe, hence her mouth being partly open in an attempt to let in more air. Lastly, there are also scars on the face from face-biting behaviour which was prevalent in tyrannosaurs.

Hope you all like this! Also, the pre-release version of Saurian was up today for those who backed $60 or more to their Kickstarter, and I can only say that while I myself was unable to pledge this much and so don't have the pre-release myself, I have seen it and it looks incredible so far. The level of detail and the extent to which the developers strive for accuracy never ceases to amaze me, and I am very excited to see the final game released!

This is based on Scott Hartman's skeletal of the same specimen, of course.

References:
Phil R. Bell ; Nicolás E. Campione ; W. Scott Persons ; Philip J. Currie ; Peter L. Larson ; Darren H. Tanke; Robert T. Bakker (2017). "Tyrannosauroid integument reveals conflicting patterns of gigantism and feather evolution". Biology Letters.
Thomas D. Carr; David J. Varricchio; Jayc C. Sedlmayr; Eric M. Roberts; Jason R. Moore (2017). "A new tyrannosaur with evidence for anagenesis and crocodile-like facial sensory system". Scientific Reports.
Witton, Mark. "Armoured Theropod Faces, Rhino Horns and Pterosaur Skin Crests: How Artists Can Predict Elaborate Skin Structures in Fossil Animals." Mark Witton.com Blog. N.p., 31 May 2017. Web. 08 June 2017.

Description
This was originally intended (and partly still is) as a quick reference for an upcoming piece with "Sue" that I am planning, but while drawing it (for the third time), I decided to use it to showcase my current opinions on the integument of Tyrannosaurus. So first off, I have taken into account the skin impressions described by Bell et al. that have been causing such a buzz lately. Short version, they're not new, and they represent only a very small portion of the animal's body (in most cases a few centimetres), however I am still happy to see them finally published (though it is a bit tainted by having to deal with people finding a bunch of poorly researched news articles saying that these skin impressions prove Tyrannosaurus was fully scaly). The feathering in this reconstruction is organized around the few skin impressions known which show scales, though note that since feathers can and do grow between scales in multiple animals (Anchiornis, owls, ptarmigan, etc.), the feathering could indeed have been more extensive than what I have chosen to do here.

The facial integument was partly influenced by Carr et al. 2017 and their conclusion that tyrannosaurids possessed some sort of unique facial integument (though I, like many others, am not convinced of the presence of crocodilian like integument), as well as thickened keratin on the nasals, lacriminals, postorbitals, and ventral dentary. The extent of said keratin and thickened skin on the face was largely influenced by Mark Witton's new post on armoured theropod faces and how they could alter the shape of the head in the living animal from the skull. I also added raised ridges on the side of the face as associated with the strange maxillary features noticed on some Tyrannosaurus skulls by WitmerLab. The throat is influenced by the throat pouch that was described in a specimen of T. bataar, before the skin impressions were frustratingly destroyed by fossil poachers.

Lastly, as I said before, this is meant to represent the specimen FMNH PR 2081, or "Sue", the largest and most complete T. rex specimen yet found, as well as one of the oldest (after "Tristan" and "Scotty"). As such, I attempted to also depict some of the many ailments and pathologies we know this animal had, such as an infection in the left fibula and gout. The liquid dripping from her mouth is the thick, cheesy fluid that forms in the throat of birds infected with Trichomonas gallinae, which Sue, like many tyrannosaur specimens, appears to have suffered from due to lesions in her jaw. This often makes it very difficult for the afflicted animal to breathe, hence her mouth being partly open in an attempt to let in more air. Lastly, there are also scars on the face from face-biting behaviour which was prevalent in tyrannosaurs.

Hope you all like this! Also, the pre-release version of Saurian was up today for those who backed $60 or more to their Kickstarter, and I can only say that while I myself was unable to pledge this much and so don't have the pre-release myself, I have seen it and it looks incredible so far. The level of detail and the extent to which the developers strive for accuracy never ceases to amaze me, and I am very excited to see the final game released!

This is based on Scott Hartman's skeletal of the same specimen, of course.

References:
Phil R. Bell ; Nicolás E. Campione ; W. Scott Persons ; Philip J. Currie ; Peter L. Larson ; Darren H. Tanke; Robert T. Bakker (2017). "Tyrannosauroid integument reveals conflicting patterns of gigantism and feather evolution". Biology Letters.
Thomas D. Carr; David J. Varricchio; Jayc C. Sedlmayr; Eric M. Roberts; Jason R. Moore (2017). "A new tyrannosaur with evidence for anagenesis and crocodile-like facial sensory system". Scientific Reports.
Witton, Mark. "Armoured Theropod Faces, Rhino Horns and Pterosaur Skin Crests: How Artists Can Predict Elaborate Skin Structures in Fossil Animals." Mark Witton.com Blog. N.p., 31 May 2017. Web. 08 June 2017.