Tarbosaurus fossil map
Where fossils of Tarbosaurus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 66 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 66 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Theropods |
|---|---|
| Lived | 89.8–66 million years ago (Coniacian to Maastrichtian) |
| Periods | Cretaceous |
| Family | Tyrannosauridae |
| Named by | Maleev 1955 |
| Fossil records | 56 occurrences at 31 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Mongolia, China, Russian Federation |
| Rock formations | Nemegt, Udurchukan, Yuliangzi, Qiupa, Subashi, Beds of Nogon Tsav |
About Tarbosaurus
Tarbosaurus ( TAR-bə-SOR-əs; meaning "alarming lizard") is a genus of large tyrannosaurid dinosaur that lived in Asia during the Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous period. It contains the type and single species Tarbosaurus bataar, which is known from the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia, with more fragmentary remains found further afield in the Subashi Formation of China. Tarbosaurus is represented by dozens of fossil specimens, including several complete skulls and skeletons. These remains have allowed studies focusing on its phylogeny, skull mechanics, and brain structure. Further fossil remains have been reported from other geologic formations of Asia, however, these remains are fragmentary and cannot be confidently assigned to Tarbosaurus or the type species.
Like most known tyrannosaurids, Tarbosaurus was a large bipedal predator, with the largest specimens measuring 10–12 metres (33–39 ft)weighing up to 4.5–5 metric tons (4.4–4.9 long tons; 5.0–5.5 short tons). It had a unique locking mechanism in its jaw, equipped with about sixty large teeth, and the smallest arms relative to body size of all tyrannosaurids, renowned for their disproportionately tiny, two-fingered hands.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Tarbosaurus (revision 1380922485), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q2491.
