SUE Annotations
1) SUE: SUE the T. rex had quite a life. Scientists know some of SUE's story by looking at fossilized bones. Even though we know so much about SUE, scientists are still discovering new evidence that helps us continue to tell and correct SUE's life story.
2) VERTEBRAE: SUE'S tail vertebrae (tail bones) had arthritis. Humans can get arthritis too. Arthritis causes swelling in the joint of a bone and can be very painful. What daily activities would have been harder for SUE with tail arthritis?
3) FIBULA: Hunting for food like SUE did was dangerous and may have caused a leg injury. It has extensive exostosis (extra bone) in reaction to a massive infection, which may have been caused by an injury. What kind of dinosaur may have been able to injure SUE?
4) RIBS: Nine of SUE's ribs were broken or diseased at some point in life. We can tell because scar tissue has grown over these ribs and looks lumpy. ZOOM IN to see. How long do you think it took SUE's ribs to heal?
5) HUMERUS: Scientists still aren't sure what SUE's tiny arms were used for, but do know SUE's humerus (upper arm bone) was injured. How do you think SUE's arm could have helped in daily life?
6) JAW: SUE was a hunter and a scavenger! Scavengers eat animals that are dead. SUE’s jaw has holes all around it that may have been caused by Trichomonis (a disease caused from rotten meat). Scientists think the pain was bad enough that SUE eventually starved to death. What dino-related scavengers living today can get the same infection?
7) Investigating More: You've learned about parts of SUE's life by looking at bones. Continue to explore and see what other questions you can ask about SUE's life!
Citations
Specimen record for SUE (Tyrannosaurus rex):
https://db.fieldmuseum.org/df4e79be-0726-4196-b745-d0717df2bd1c . PR2081 . Field Museum of Natural History