Tyrannosaurus rex. The king of dinosaurs. Beloved (and feared) by dinosaur fans around the world. So dreadfully awesome a beast, its bones are rumored to have inspired the legend of the dragon. 

The T-Rex is undisputedly the most famous of all dinos. Since discovery in 1905, the dreaded predator has fascinated us. Brought alive by the magic of film (and the imagination of filmmakers), T-Rex has battled King Kong, fought alongside Optimus Prime, and given Jeff Goldblum a serious run for his money.

When it comes to pop-culture, our enchantment with T-Rex doesn't end there: There is a British glam rock band named after this prehistoric king; take a quick tour of any toy store and you'll find countless T-Rex toys; and, have you seen the inflatable T-Rex costumes all over TikTok? Forget fifteen minutes of fame. Millions upon millions of years running, T-Rex is still all the rage. 

In popular culture, Tyrannosaurus rex is portrayed as the deadliest dinosaur, and undoubtedly, it was a fearsome predator. But was Rexy really the undisputed King of the Cretaceous? The Mistress of the Mesozoic? Maybe not.

There were a number of other formidable dinosaurs, some which would
have struck fear even into the heart of our ferocious T-Rex. Here are five dinosaurs that could (just maybe) kill a T-Rex.

Ankylosaurus

This dinosaur was essentially a living tank. Ankylosaurus was covered with armored plates from head to tail, including—believe it or not—its eyelids! Weighing over three tons, this dinosaur was big, powerful, and deadly. In addition to its suit of armor, Ankylosaurus boasted a terrifying weapon: A bony club that sprouted from its tail, which the dinosaur could swing like a wrecking ball, pulverizing any predator foolhardy enough to attack.

But how would it fare against a T-Rex? For starters, Rexy would for sure have trouble biting through that armor. And Ankylosaurus wouldn't just sit there, letting the T-Rex gnaw away now would he? Not a chance. With a quick whack of its clubbed tail, Ankylosaurus could likely shatter a T-Rex's bones, perhaps even killing the fearsome carnivore.

Ankylosaurus was definitely a dinosaur that could kill a T-Rex.

Triceratops

One of the greatest rivalries of the Cretaceous was Triceratops vs.Tyrannosaurus rex. Triceratops (trike for short) was proof that herbivores were no pushovers. This enormous dinosaur could weigh more than two elephants, and its imposing horns would have have filled the nightmares of many would-be predators. A foot wide at their base, the horns tapered into mean points that could skewer a T-Rex.

The Triceratops boasted a colossal skull and sported a huge frill of protective, solid bone topped with hornlets. From the tip of its beak to the spiked rim of its frill, a trike's head could reach ten feet long and weigh a cool ton. This entire gargantuan skull was attached to the body via a ball joint, allowing the Triceratops to swivel its head around with remarkable speed, bringing his horns to bear on his enemies.

A T-Rex who attacked a Triceratops was taking a big risk. The battle could go either way. The T-Rex might emerge victorious and enjoy a feast, but just as likely, the hunted would become the hunter. With a powerful build and deadly horns, Triceratops was another dinosaur that could kill a T-Rex.

Giganotosaurus

T-Rex is often called King of the Dinosaurs. But when it comes to size, he had a challenger. Giganotosaurus was among the largest carnivores to ever walk the land. And while we have never found a complete Giganotosaurus skeleton, we know from the fragments we've dug up, that this was a giant. Some scientists believe Giganotosaurus was even larger than T-Rex. Large enough to swallow a human whole, gigas were apex predators in their environment who likely fed on young sauropods.

In this battle of titans, the two foes were evenly matched. On a good day, the giant, powerful Giganotosaurus could definitely kill a T-rex.

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Spinosaurus

A dweller of swamps and shallow water, Spinosaurus was among the largest carnivorous dinosaurs. It was lighter than a T-rex but longer. From nostrils to tail tip, it was as long as a sperm whale, and far meaner than Ahab's nemesis. The dinosaur had a snout like a crocodile, long and full of nasty teeth which were smaller than those of a T-Rex, but more plentiful. The skull was enormous—longer than a man was tall— and while the carnivore walked on two legs like a T-Rex, unlike a T-Rex it had long arms tipped with terrible claws.

Spinosaurus also boasted a unique feature: rows of spikes rose along its back. Scaly skin stretched between these spines, forming a sail likely used to intimidate rivals and attract mates.

Leaping out of the water, snapping at the T-rex like a crocodile from hell, the Spinosaurus could very possibly emerge victorious.

Dreadnoughtus

Sauropods—herbivores with long necks—were the largest dinosaurs that ever lived. There were many sauropod species, the most famous of which was the Brontosaurus. The Brontosaurus however, was not the largest. Bigger even than the Brontosaurus was the titan Dreadnoughtus.

Their name means "fear nothing." They made Brontosaurs seem puny. Longer than blue whales, a human would stand shorter than their knees. Dreadnoughtus was so titanic it was essentially predator proof. This dinosaur was a herbivore, but like fellow herbivoreTriceratops, it was no pushover. Its powerful legs could kick and crush with ease. Its tail could whip through the air, pulverizing its enemies. It was ten times the size of a T-Rex, and it could easily kill one.

What do you think? Do you agree that these formidable five dinosaurs could kill a T-Rex? Do you know any other dinosaurs that could defeat the king? Let us know in the comments.

And then be sure to pick up Daniel Arenson's latest dino-riffic release, Mintari. Available now in all formats, including the audiobook with a full cast narration.

Get A World of Dinosaurs (Mintari Book 1) on eBook and audiobook.