T rex’s keyhole eye sockets helped its bite, research suggests

Palaeontologist Stephan Lautenschlager said there was a trade off between better vision and tolerance of higher stresses in the skull. Illustration: Eye Risk/Alamy

With a huge body, sharp claws, and dagger-like teeth, Tyrannosaurus rex would not have relied on looks to kill. But research suggests its eyes may have contributed to its bone-crushing bite.

A study has proposed the keyhole-shaped eye sockets of T rex may have helped to disperse stress across the skull of the fearsome predator as it chomped on its prey.