Could T. Rex Really Swim? Expert Breaks Down Jurassic World’s Epic Scene!

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Enthusiasts of the Jurassic franchise, who have been eagerly anticipating the 2025 film “Jurassic World Rebirth“, are thrilled about an anticipated blockbuster moment that’s been in development for 32 years. By resurrecting a deleted T. rex river scene from “Jurassic Park”, screenwriter David Koepp has brought to life a long-cherished vision that significantly contributed to the creation of Universal theme park attractions.

In simpler terms, it seems like you’re wondering if a T-Rex was capable of swimming. After consulting with a dinosaur specialist, I can provide an answer, but with some important considerings in mind…

Tyrannosaurs Rex Could Swim, But Not In The Way Jurassic World Rebirth Shows Us

This Tyrannosaurus’s gender is unknown, but for now, I’ve chosen to call it Red. You’ll find out why later, but let me clarify that this fearsome dinosaur could indeed swim. I can confirm this based on the information presented in one of the highly informative episodes from Apple TV+’s show, “Prehistoric Planet 2,” which delves into this topic in the enlightening clip provided below.

It wasn’t just Adalatherium that captivated me in Prehistoric Planet 2; it also opened up an opportunity for me to engage with the show’s lead scientific consultant, Dr. Darren Naish. Leveraging the wonders of social media, I reached out to him via DMs and asked about his thoughts on the Jurassic World Rebirth trailer. Graciously responding to my inquiries, Dr. Naish generously shared his insights with TopMob regarding that intriguing clip.

As a follower of this fascinating subject, I ponder over the possibility that Tyrannosaurs might have been capable swimmers, given that many creatures today exhibit swimming abilities. However, based on my understanding, the iconic T. rex, as depicted in movies with its underwater feats, seems more like a crocodile’s fantasy rather than a reality for this giant dinosaur.

It’s worth noting that when Dr. Darren Naish provided his response, he hadn’t yet watched the latest “Jurassic World” film. However, based on the promotional clips, it seems that there are elements reminiscent of a crocodile’s behavior in the movie. Regarding your follow-up question, it might be interesting to explore why Red the T. rex couldn’t engage “sport mode,” similar to what was depicted in “Rebirth.

You Can Blame T. rex’s Bones For Its Inability To Go Submerable

At this point, I must confess that Red is actually a nickname for “Red October,” referring to the famous submarine from Tom Clancy’s novels. This name sticks because it can submerge below water, despite scientific discoveries. Furthermore, Red does not identify as male or female, and I don’t want to upset any ancient creatures by using gendered language unintentionally.

As a movie enthusiast delving into prehistoric times, I must express my reservations about a particular scene featuring the Tyrannosaurus rex. Dr. Naish, a renowned paleontologist, questions the authenticity of this portrayal, arguing that our mighty T-rex wouldn’t be able to submerge in water to pursue its prey as depicted.

Expanding on his insights from “Prehistoric Planet 2,” Dr. Naish points out that Tyrannosaurus rexes were land-dwelling creatures, not adept swimmers. Their massive size and poor limb structure made swimming an inefficient and unlikely method of predation for these beasts.

In essence, the portrayal of a T-rex submerging to chase its prey may not accurately reflect the reality of prehistoric life as we understand it today. For a more accurate representation, filmmakers should focus on showcasing the Tyrannosaurus rex’s impressive speed and agility on land, where it truly ruled supreme.

It seems as if they’re following the approach taken by Michael Crichton in his book, where he occasionally portrayed dinosaurs acting like aquatic reptiles such as lizards or crocodiles while swimming underwater in this fashion. However, this depiction is inaccurate according to our current understanding because theropods, with a few exceptions like penguins and grebes, are generally not efficient at deep-water swimming; they’re primarily limited to surface swimming due to their buoyancy.

Just as we learned from an episode of “Prehistoric Planet 2”, Theropod bones were lightweight enough to float effortlessly, similar to a plastic boat in a bathtub that won’t sink unless it’s filled with water. So if you had the impression that the Tyrannosaurus in “Jurassic World Rebirth” was an Olympic-level swimmer, I’m afraid its swimming skills would be more like a dog paddling rather than a competitive swimmer.

If the strong opening weekend of “Jurassic World Rebirth” sparks a successful run at the box office and leads to another sequel, scientific discoveries could help shape the storyline for the next film. It’s worth noting that Dr. Darren Naish has been instrumental in debunking this theory. Whether you’re eager to experience a Tyrannosaurus Rex named “Red October” or simply crave some dinosaur action, catch “Rebirth” at a cinema near you.

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2025-07-13 15:08