Tyrannosaurus rex was an active hunter that exclusively pursued and killed live prey, never scavenging.
Modern paleontological debate, informed by biomechanical studies and isotope analysis, suggests T. rex was an opportunistic feeder combining both predation and scavenging. Its relatively slow maximum speed (25-40 km/h), powerful bite force, and robust build made it efficient at scavenging kills from other predators and dispatching weakened prey. Studies by paleontologists like Steven Brusatte indicate T. rex likely spent considerable energy on finding and consuming carrion, particularly given the sparse population densities of large dinosaurs in the Late Cretaceous.