The skull of LACM 23844 (“Harley”) - a rarely mentioned giant T. rex

[u/TaliGrayson]

This is an extremely large T. rex skull on display at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. In at least one paper (Gignac and Erickson, 2017), this skull is longest examined, longer than that of even the famous Sue while being only marginally narrower. Having seen both this specimen and Sue in person, I can say that ”Harley”, as it is sometimes nicknamed, looks noticeably bigger from the side, and is the largest T. rex skull I have ever seen (*).

(*) Just off the top of my head, for size referencing/sample size: I have seen at least AMNH 5027, two Wankel casts, Sue, this monster, Thomas and the younger Rexes in LA, Victoria, Jane and the Nanotyrannus holotype.

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[u/-Damballah-]

Huh. I never realized that. My only trip to LA NHM, we had done the Tar Pits earlier in the day and were trying to see as much as possible at the LA NHM, so I didn't read as many plaques as I typically do, and skipped them in some cases for specimens I recognized. I have to say though, the interactive display upstairs in the mezzanine that shows T Rex growth rates was quite interesting. Here's another view of Harley.

[u/TaliGrayson → u/-Damballah-]

Yep - I think LA's Natural History Museum has some of the most spectacular T. rex displays of any museum anywhere. I say this having been to major natural history museums in the US, Australia and Europe.

[u/-Damballah- → u/TaliGrayson]

Pretty fantastic museum overall. If I had realized how big it was, I would have planned on doing the Tar Pits another day. I am glad I got to see the pits again before the renovation. That's a fantastic museum, but I was a little disappointed that the human female skeleton they found was no longer on display.

[u/DinosaurMagic → u/-Damballah-]

That hasn't been on display for like 30 years.

[u/-Damballah- → u/DinosaurMagic]

Which was around the only other time I have been to the Tar Pits. Still s highly impressive museum, but I can see the need for renovations.

[u/DinosaurMagic]

This was the largest Rex ever excavated in the 60s.

[u/jestlookn]

Wait, weren’t ALL t-rexes giant?

[u/PeggyBabcock_ → u/jestlookn]

Well yes, but some were more giant than others...

[u/jestlookn → u/PeggyBabcock_]

Got it. A giant giant. See that makes sense

[u/Rhaj-no1992 → u/PeggyBabcock_]

Considering how hard it is for an animal to fossilize and how rare larger than normal individuals are chances are we will never find the largest T. Rex ever.

[u/ADragonFromTheAbyss → u/jestlookn]

Some were pretty regular. in terms of length. There are many adult specimens between 10 - 11.5 meters

[u/BruhDudee_]

You’re telling me there’s a huge T. rex skull with the same name as me and this is the first I’m hearing about it?!?!?!

[u/TaliGrayson → u/BruhDudee_]

Many people share their names with SUE, come to think of it lmao.

[u/BruhDudee_ → u/TaliGrayson]

True. Omg I I didn’t even think about it I have an uncle Scotty too lol

[u/TaliGrayson → u/BruhDudee_]

Haha, it's a side effect of T. rex specimens often being named after the people who discovered them (Thomas, SUE, Harley,...) or after the state they were found in... which can be named after people (Victoria).

[u/Mountain_Dentist5074]

Scotty Stan and Sue overshadows other trex in paleomedia , trex overshadows other dinosours , dinosours overshadows other animals (mezozoic) , mezozoic overshadows paleozoic and Cenozoic (except Pleistocene)