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Science & Nature • Paleontology

Tarbosaurus

Tarbosaurus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Asia.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Tarbosaurus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Asia. The single recognized species, Tarbosaurus bataar, is known mainly from Mongolia, with additional material from China. It was a large carnivorous apex predator and a close relative of Tyrannosaurus rex.

Description

Tarbosaurus was a large bipedal theropod with powerful jaws and reduced forelimbs. It is generally described as similar to Tyrannosaurus rex, though it lived in Asia rather than North America.

Discovery and naming

The genus was described by Evgeny Maleev in 1955, and the species name bataar is part of the only widely recognized species, Tarbosaurus bataar.

Fossil record and distribution

Fossils are known mainly from Mongolia, especially the Nemegt Formation, and more fragmentary remains have been reported from China. Tarbosaurus is represented by dozens of fossil specimens, including skulls and skeletons.

Paleoecology

Tarbosaurus lived in humid floodplain environments crossed by rivers and occupied the role of a top predator in its ecosystem. It lived during the Late Cretaceous, roughly 74–70 million years ago.

Classification

Tarbosaurus belongs to Tyrannosauridae within Theropoda and is usually placed among the tyrannosaurines. It is a close relative of Tyrannosaurus rex.

Key facts

  • Tarbosaurus is a tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Asia.
  • The best-known and only recognized species is Tarbosaurus bataar.
  • Its fossils are best known from the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia, with additional remains from China.
  • It was a large apex predator and is closely related to Tyrannosaurus rex.
  • Tarbosaurus is represented by dozens of fossil specimens, including skulls and skeletons.
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Canadian context

Tarbosaurus is mainly relevant to Canadian readers through museum collections, dinosaur education, and comparative studies of tyrannosaur evolution; it is a classic example of a close relative of Tyrannosaurus rex.

Frequently asked questions

What is Tarbosaurus?
Tarbosaurus is a genus of large tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Asia.
Where were Tarbosaurus fossils found?
Most fossils come from Mongolia, especially the Nemegt Formation, and additional material has been found in China.
What did Tarbosaurus eat?
Tarbosaurus was carnivorous and is regarded as an apex predator.
How closely related is Tarbosaurus to T. rex?
Tarbosaurus was a close relative of Tyrannosaurus rex and is often described as its Asian counterpart.
When did Tarbosaurus live?
It lived during the Late Cretaceous, roughly 74–70 million years ago.
How many species of Tarbosaurus are recognized?
The single recognized species is Tarbosaurus bataar.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarbosaurus
    Supports: Single recognized species Tarbosaurus bataar; fossils from Mongolia and China; tyrannosaurid classification; estimated size; floodplain habitat.
  2. Natural History Museum — https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/tarbosaurus.html
    Supports: Name meaning; type of dinosaur; length; diet; time period; fossil locations; taxonomy; named by Maleev in 1955.
  3. Australian Museum — https://www.australian.museum/learn/dinosaurs/fact-sheets/tarbosaurus-bataar/
    Supports: Meaning of name; discovery and naming; Late Cretaceous age; distribution in Mongolia and China; comparison with Tyrannosaurus rex.
  4. A-Z Animals — https://www.a-z-animals.com/animals/tarbosaurus/
    Supports: Carnivorous diet; Late Cretaceous age; finds in Mongolia and China; floodplain setting; specimen count.