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A T. rex named Sue (by yoffie_2000)

If you’re ever up or near Chicago, IL, I suggest going to The Field Museum and visiting the largest, most complete, and most preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered. It’s one of the most breathtaking skeletons you will ever see in person, and definitely a great museum overall to explore!

Some information about Sue (catalog number: FMNH PR 2081):

• Overall length: 40.5 feet.
• Height: 13 feet at the hips.
• Estimated to have weighed over 7 tons when alive.
• Weight of skeleton: 3,922 lbs.
• The length of Sue’s skull is 5 feet, and weighing 600 lbs.
• She is named after the palaeontologist who found her, Susan Hendrickson, in Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, South Dakota on August 12, 1990.
• Sue’s bones are the biggest of all T. rex skeletons ever found.
• Sue is estimated to have been 28 years old when she died, making her the oldest Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered.
• The skeleton is so well preserved that palaeontologists can actually see where muscles, ligaments, and tendons attached, along with the cellular structure within the bones is immaculately preserved.
• Sue is the first T. rex to have ever been discovered with a furcula (wishbone), gastralia (stomach ribs), and a stapes (ear bone).

Apart from the fact that you technically won’t see it in person as the skeleton’s a cast. Bazzinga.

Actually, the skeleton that sits on display in The Field Museum is 90-95% real. They are the original bones. Sue’s real skull sits on display with the teeth up one floor (right under the T. rex mural above the skeleton in this photo), because it was much too heavy even with the custom architectural design constructed made for Sue’s bones. And for the missing pieces in her skeleton (i.e. a foot, hand, some vertebrae, etc), those were moulded to match what other bones were already found. There have been many complete casts of her skeleton for scientific studying, along with being created for world tours so everyone around the world could get a good look at Sue. You can also tell the difference between what’s fake and what’s real when looking up close to the bones. If you go on their official website, you will find information all about Sue, along with the information that states the skeleton on display in TFM is real. I took a screencap of the page which can be found here (along with clicking on the tool button). I also found another link which states it is her real skeleton (bottom screencap), and the information can be found on The Field Museum’s official website here.

And to triple check my facts, I just called up The Field Museum and talked to a representative about Sue’s skeleton. They stated I was correct with my knowledge on Sue. So yes, it is her REAL skeleton (other than the few missing bones and skull stated above). If you wish to call them up and ask yourself, feel free to. Hope this cleared up more information! — crownedrose (scinerd admin who posted the original entry on Sue)