Kicker: T. rex lips

SOUND: [JURASSIC PARK T-REX]

PAUL BUTLER, HOST: T.rex dinosaurs are often depicted as baring their teeth, and even when the dinosaur's mouth is closed their teeth are always seen jutting out. But a new article in the journal Science suggests this stereotypical image might be wrong.

THOMAS CULLEN: This project has been going on for a long time.

Thomas Cullen is the article's lead author. He recently spoke with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

CULLEN: We discovered that large dinosaurs like tyrannosaurus rex likely had lips similar to a lizard and were not like a crocodile with their teeth exposed all the time.

When researchers compared the skulls from dinosaurs and living reptiles, they discovered that some monitor lizards actually have bigger teeth in relation to the size of their skull than the T.rex. Yet their teeth still fit comfortably inside a set of scaly lips.

There's another significant clue: teeth wear patterns. T.rex teeth aren't worn down like you'd expect if they were constantly exposed. So, these evidences lead at least some researchers to say T.rex must have had lips, and how does T.rex feel about these newest developments?

LARRY: I love my lips.

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