Scientists reveal predatory dinosaurs likely had lizard-like lips

For years, scientists and artists have apparently debated how predatory dinosaurs such as the Tyrannosaurus rex actually looked, especially around their mouths. Were their teeth always exposed like crocodiles, or did they have lips that covered them? That question has fueled discussions and movie portrayals, with films like Jurassic Park showing the T. rex with a fearsome, toothy grin. But a recent study suggests that this popular image might not be accurate.

New research claims that these giant predators likely had scaly, lizard-like lips that sealed their mouths, according to a platform Heritage Daily. The study challenges long-held beliefs about theropod dinosaurs, a group that includes two-legged carnivores such as T. rex and Velociraptor, as well as modern birds. One of the main debates has been whether these dinosaurs had mouths without lips, with their upper teeth always showing and hanging over the lower jaw, much like the mouth of a crocodile.

The team of international researchers found that the mouth structure of these dinosaurs was more similar to lizards and the tuatara, a rare reptile native to New Zealand, than to crocodiles. To reach their conclusion, the scientists examined teeth structure, wear patterns, and jaw shapes across different reptile species, both with and without lips.


The study found that the structure and function of theropod mouths were closer to those of lizards than crocodiles, according to Heritage Daily. This led researchers to conclude that these dinosaurs likely had scaly lips covering their teeth, resembling the oral tissues seen in lizards.

However, it is pertinent to mention that these lips were not muscular like those of mammals. Although reptile lips cover their teeth, they cannot move on their own. This means they cannot curl back into a snarl or make the kinds of movements often linked with human or mammalian lips.