The Tyrannosaurus rex species, including all its individual members, was wiped out by a cataclysmic asteroid or comet impact that struck Earth, bringing an abrupt end to the Cretaceous period.
The Great Extinction Event
Approximately 66 million years ago, a colossal celestial body, described as being the size of a mountain, collided with our planet. This devastating impact triggered a chain of events that fundamentally altered Earth's environment and led to one of the most significant extinction events in its history.
Impact on Dinosaurs and Beyond
The immediate and long-term effects of this impact were catastrophic:
- Mass Extinction: The collision led to the demise of Tyrannosaurus rex and all other non-avian dinosaurs. This means that no individual T. rex, nor any other dinosaur from that era (except for the lineage that evolved into modern birds), survived the cataclysm.
- Environmental Collapse: The immense energy released by the impact caused widespread destruction, including tsunamis, wildfires, and a sudden global cooling due to dust and debris blocking out the sun. These drastic changes made the planet uninhabitable for many species.
- End of an Era: This event also marked a definitive end to the Cretaceous period, ushering in the Cenozoic Era, often referred to as the "Age of Mammals," as mammals were among the groups that managed to survive and subsequently diversify.
In essence, the original Tyrannosaurus rex and its entire species perished due to this singular, monumental natural disaster.
