LordTrilobite Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 Hello! Some of you may have heard the news. The Netherlands now has it's own T. rex and it was unveiled today! This is the same T. rex that @chele and her husband found in Montana back in 2013. After that it was dug up by a team of Naturalis the natural history museum in Leiden in cooperation with the Black Hills Institute. This museum also bought the T. rex. Around 5 million euros was crowdfunded to make this possible. The skeleton was prepared in the Black Hills Institute by Pete Larson and his team. The T. rex is of the robust morph and thus probably a female. The animal has been named Trix after our former queen Beatrix. As of spetember 10th the skeleton will be viewable by the public for a time. As the museum is in the middle of a huge renovation the skeleton is temporarily housed in the only part that is open to the public now. I don't know the exact dates but the skeleton will go on tour and in 2018 the skeleton should get it's final resting place in the new dinosaur hall at the museum. The staff of the museum got a preview before the unveiling (I'm a volunteer at the fossil prep lab) so I was lucky enough that I could take some photos. So without further ado. Some pictures... I noticed that the pectoral girdle seems to be positioned really low compared to other reconstructions. Lastly a picture of one of the information panels. This shows how much of the skeleton is real. I've been told around 75% to 80% of the bone volume is present. Some more information on this T. rex. - The animal is now named Trix. After the former Dutch queen Beatrix. - Trix is in the top 3 of best preserved T. rexes. - The skeleton is of the robust morph. So it's probably female. - This is the only T. rex skeleton in the world that is mounted with the real skull. - The missing bones were 3d printed. Some mirrored versions of bones that were present. And some bones based on Sue, such as the feet. - Trix was prepped in the Black Hills Institute. - Trix is about the same size as Sue. - There are a lot of pathologies. This includes T. rex bitemarks on the jaw and broken ribs. - After this temporary exhibit and tour the skeleton will be permanently housed in the new dinosaur hall in Naturalis in Leiden. Because it's some part news, part fossil hunting trip and part museum visit I figured it best fitted being in general discussion. 14 Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted September 9, 2016 Author Share Posted September 9, 2016 More photos as well as some hand and feet closups that Troodon asked for. Though all of the arms and feet are casts from other T. rex material. I think the feet are cast from Sue. 11 Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 So nice to see this update on Chele's T-rex! Glad it went to a good, appreciative home. Thanks for posting this, Olof! Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 Beautiful display. I like the way they posed the mount versus a traditional one, it also enabled them to use the real skull. Nice to see that 3D printing was used to replicate bones and did not know that BHI was using that technology. Thanks for the pictures, great shots, additional information and your coverage of Trix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted September 9, 2016 Author Share Posted September 9, 2016 They didn't. All the casts were 3D printed here in the Netherlands at Naturalis and then sent to BHI. 2 Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 Ah that makes more sense, thanks. Hopefully they they will invest in that technology it's pretty cool but not cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggedy Man Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 ....... ...I'm back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan from PA Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 Thanks so much for sharing! Absolutely stunning! I am so happy for the Dutch kids who are going to love this T.rex! . The mount is perfect, and allows little ones to stand face to face with her! So awesome! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 Wow, fantastic! Wish it was on display last week, I was on holiday there! John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted September 12, 2016 Author Share Posted September 12, 2016 Here are some more after hours photos. Half the lights were already off but it actually gives a nice contrasting look with the lighter background. 6 Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 Very nice, like the shots without anyone around. Thanks for the additional photos. Did you ask if you could borrow her a few days Edit: Oops forgot it's a she Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted September 12, 2016 Author Share Posted September 12, 2016 Her actually, since it's the robust morph. Roughly the same size as Sue aswell I've been told. Though I haven't ever seen Sue in person. And no, after a day's sandblasting Triceratops bones in the prep lab I popped by Trix in the adjacent hall at the end of the day when all the visitors were gone. Being in the hall alone with the remains of such a huge predatory animal is feels really kinda special. 2 Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 Repaired the gender slip. Yes quite nice being alone with such a beast. Better in this form than 66 million years ago in person. Very relaxing.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 It's a simple bus ride away from me.......... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted September 12, 2016 Author Share Posted September 12, 2016 Keep in mind that you'll need to get a ticket and timeslot in advance to get in. It's definitely worth seeing the skeleton in person though. 1 Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 It is simply, a wonderful thing. I am pleased to have seen these photos, thank you. 1 Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcfossilcollector Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Thank you so much for the photos and information. Truly awe inspiring! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Thank you, Olof. These images are a stunning look at Blaine and Chele's discovery. The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Thanks again for keeping us informed and this time for the great photos. Larson and his crew did a fantastic job! I hope we hear from Chele and Blaine again. I'm curious as to what they're up to now. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted September 16, 2016 Author Share Posted September 16, 2016 Here are some more closeup pictures for those interested in the details. Right foot. Cast from Sue I think. Right hand. Cast from a different rex though I don't know which. Left hand Pubis right side. Pretty much all of the hips are original. Ilium left side. This also nicely shows the 3D printed left leg (mirrored from the right) as it's slightly less detailed than the real bones. Gastralis right side. I think roughly half the gastralia are real. Detail of the back of the skull. Detail of the large bone infection on the snout. I'm not sure but it looks like it goes all the way into the tooth cavity. This must have hurt terribly. 3 Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chele Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 Hello everyone! I am sorry that I could not give any info or share pictures with you. Once the museum acquired the rex we could not share anything until the unveiling of Trix. So here is a photo of Blaine and I at a private showing a day before the public could view her. We had seen her assembled once before in Hill City last June. The trip to Holland was a fantastic time. Not only did we get to see our rex again, I also met up with some of my family I have not seen for many years. It was a very emotional time for me. The people in Leiden were awesome. We had signed a lot of autographs and had been in a lot of selfies with people. It was such an amazing trip. 5 Chelebele Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 What an outstanding photo. Your story is a Forum legend...you should write a book, Chele. It's good to hear from you and see you are doing well. The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 Hi, Happy to see you again ! Us miss you ! Coco ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triceratops Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 Incredible find. I am so glad 'Trix' got a good home. Thank you for sharing! -Lyall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted November 29, 2016 Author Share Posted November 29, 2016 Another update on this T. rex. The 3D scans of the skeleton are now also viewable online. Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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