T-Rex Tattoo Meaning, Design & Ideas

From the moment we saw our first movie involving dinosaurs, the Tyrannosaurus Rex made an appearance in our nightmares.

This giant carnivore was always the “bad guy” in every movie we have seen involving dinosaurs which made them terrifying to us as kids and even adults. However, many of us choose to embrace the T-Rex and all that comes with it by getting a T-Rex tattoo.

The T-Rex tattoo is a way for us to honor this ancient monster. It might also be a way to conquer our own fears by looking at the T-Rex tattoo.

There are many reasons why someone might get a T-Rex tattoo. In this post, we will be talking about the T-Rex. We’ll talk about what it is and the symbolism of the T-Rex tattoo. By the end of this post, we hope you have a better understanding of what the Tyrannosaurus Rex is all about and give you some fresh and new ideas for you to think about when you get your very own T-Rex tattoo.

About the Tyrannosaurus Rex

Tyrannosaurus rex is one the most popular theropods in the dinosaur kingdom. Rex means ‘King’ in Latin and this moniker is given for good reason. The Tyrannosaurus rex is one of the most feared dinosaurs to have ever existed.

The T-Rex was one of the biggest carnivores that lived on land of all time. The largest T-Rex ever discovered resides at the Museum of Natural History and is nicknamed Sue. Sue measured 40 feet long, 12 feet high and according to what experts have figured, weighed 8.4 to 14 tons when it was alive. Not all T-Rex skeletons discovered proved to be as big as Sue but even on the smaller side, they still weighed 4.5 metric tons and that is on the light side.

Scientists believe there are T-Rex remains that are still buried that might be much larger than Sue is. However, because of the incomplete nature of the fossil record, the discovery of a larger T-Rex might be tough.

One of the most terrifying things about the Tyrannosaurus rex is its teeth. The teeth of the T-Rex are considered heterodonty which means they are different shapes. This means a tattoo of T-Rex teeth might look very different from the next, but I digress.

The T-Rex teeth curve backwards which is better for gripping and reduces the chance of the teeth breaking when biting and tearing. In the back of the mouth of the T-Rex, the teeth can be likened to deadly bananas. They are spread far apart and aren’t used so much for tearing but for chewing.

The largest T-Rex tooth ever found was 12 inches long making it the largest tooth from any meat-eating dinosaur to date.

T-Rex Tattoo Symbolism

The T-Rex tattoo doesn’t necessarily mean anything from the standpoint of symbolism but if you ask the person with this tattoo, they might disagree.

In dreams, if you were to see a Tyrannosaurus rex, it might symbolize your fears and be in the image of this carnivorous dinosaur. Getting the T-Rex tattoo might symbolize aggression or power by the person who wears it. Because of the fierceness of the T-Rex paired with its intimidating stature, the T-Rex tattoo can really make a strong impression.

It is no surprise that the Tyrannosaurus Rex is dividing. People either love the T-Rex for its aggressive nature or don’t like it because of those same reasons. The Tyrannosaurus isn’t worried about that as they only worry about themselves and don’t hunt in packs. However, they emit a confidence that others admire and might be a reason for a tattoo. The T-Rex is a natural leader. The person wearing this tattoo might live life in their own self-interest and this can be healthy at times. There must be a balance of looking out for yourself and others.

T-Rex Tattoo Variations

As with most tattoos, we have seen many variations of this piece. The T-Rex tattoo can be inked in different styles and different images that might portray a unique message. Below are some of the more common variations of the T-Rex tattoo that we have seen. The T-Rex tattoo’s meaning is in the eye of the beholder.

T-Rex Skull Tattoo

The T-Rex skull tattoo is a common one in this category. Skulls can represent death or a warning of danger. The skull can also just be a cool image to have tattooed on your body. Whatever the reason is, the T-Rex skull tattoo is one that we see often.

T-Rex Realism Tattoo

If you really want to invoke fear from an image, a realistic T-Rex tattoo is a great way to go. As long as your tattoo artist has the skills to make this giant look real, it can be a really beautiful, yet scary tattoo. The image itself is cool enough to be a reason for the tattoo but if there is any meaning behind the tattoo, even better.

T-Rex Funny Tattoo

It also helps us to poke fun at the things that scare us. By doing so, we take the power away from it. It no longer holds that power because by making the T-Rex tattoo look silly, it makes the image look a little less scary. One example of this kind of tattoo we have seen is a T-Rex wearing a monocle and a top hat. We’ve also seen some T-Rex tattoos that revolve around the idea of the beast having extremely short arms.

Cartoon T-Rex Tattoo

The cartoon version of the T-rex tattoo is commonplace today. New school tattoos are gaining popularity and with many cartoons out there and many Tyrannosaurus rex characters, it leaves a few options to get a cartoon version of a T-rex.

There are many other styles and variations of the T-rex tattoo that we didn’t get to touch on, but we hope some of these examples and the pictures below will help you get an idea for your next tattoo. If you need a second opinion on the artist you planned on seeing for your T-Rex tattoo, let us know and we would be happy to help.

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