Tristan the T. rex skeleton celebrates ten years at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. Since its arrival on December 16th 2015, it has received over five million visitors. The specimen, representing the first original fossil Tyrannosaurus rex to be exhibited in Europe at the time, has proved to be a huge success. It has had a measurable impact on tourism in the German city.
Tristan the T. rex exhibit on display at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. Picture credit: Carola Radke Museum für Naturkunde Berlin.
Picture credit: Carola Radke Museum für Naturkunde Berlin
Specimen Number MB. R. 91216 (Tristan the T. rex)
The fossil (specimen number MB. R. 91216) is one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons known to science. Approximately, one hundred and seventy bones have been preserved. It has proved to be an extremely popular exhibit. In the years before the coronavirus pandemic (2016–2019), the museum recorded up to 821,489 visitors annually thanks to Tristan (Tristan Otto). The millionth visitor was recorded as early as March 2017.
This iconic fossil has been the subject of numerous television documentaries. For example, in 2017 naturalist Chris Packham narrated an hour-long documentary on how this twelve-metre-long tyrannosaur was shaping thinking about Tyrannosaurus rex.
To read our article about this broadcast: Tyrannosaur Specimen to Feature in New Television Documentary.
The exhibit’s loan to the Natural History Museum in Copenhagen (2020–2022) and its return in August 2022 made headlines. On the last day, prior to the exhibit closing for packing and shipping to Denmark, Tristan the T. rex received over twenty-five thousand visitors.
A Treasure Trove for Scientific Research
The Tyrannosaurus rex specimen known as Tristan acquired its nickname simply because it was discovered by a private collector called Tristan Otto during excavations in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana in 2010.
The skull is almost complete. It is one of the best-preserved tyrannosaur skulls known. As such, it is a treasure trove for research. For instance, detailed scans of the skull have allowed palaeontologists to reconstruct tyrannosaur nerve fibres and permitted insights into the sense of smell. Traces of disease discovered, including evidence of a bone tumour and toothache, also provide rare insights into the individual life of this animal. Its deep black colouring, typical of fossils from the Hell Creek Formation in Montana (USA), gives it additional visual impact. Tristan the T. rex has become an icon.
Analysis of fossil material helped Everything Dinosaur team members to reconstruct a scientifically accurate, 1:33 scale replica of Tyrannosaurus rex. This model has been widely praised by palaeontologists and model collectors.
Everything Dinosaur Evolution T. rex model on top of its beautiful box. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
To view the Everything Dinosaur Evolution T. rex models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Everything Dinosaur Evolution Models.
Accessible to Scientists
Despite being privately owned, Tristan is fully accessible to scientists. Research can continue using this specimen. It has been catalogued and secured for long-term research and exhibition. This is an exemplary model of co-operation between public bodies and private ownership.
Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“This tyrannosaur specimen is an excellent example of how a museum and a patron can work together for the benefit of science. The specimen might be privately owned but it is on public display and also accessible to the scientific community.”
Tristan the T. rex remains a strong brand ambassador for the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. A total of 5,764,218 people have visited Tristan Otto since 2015. These visitor numbers demonstrate the lasting appeal of the “King of the Tyrant Lizards”.
Happy tenth anniversary Tristan.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin in the compilation of this article.
The multi-award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Buy Prehistoric Animal Models.
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