This types strolled the earth 70 to 73 million years ago, predating T. rex by up to five million years. Could this be the predecessor to the king of dinosaurs? The response lies in continuous research study and future discoveries.
Paleontologists at the close-by New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science not long after started and joined the scene digging. They discovered additional dinosaur bones, consisting of part of the skull.
In the arid landscapes of Las Cruces, New Mexico, a possibility discovery by civilians in 1983 has caused an innovative find on the planet of paleontology. At Elephant Butte tank, what started as a leisurely boating trip transformed into a historic exploration with the discovery of a jawbone that lay concealed for countless years, waiting to unveil its secrets.
Anthony Fiorello, the executive director of the museum, highlights some crucial differences between the 2 extremely carefully related tyrannosaurs: a slim and curved lower jaw suggesting a special feeding routine and unique features around the eye, consisting of the absence of hornlets over the eyes, a function typical in T. rex.
At first, paleontologists ascribed the bones to T. rex, perhaps the most famous of all dinosaurs and the apex predator of the Late Cretaceous duration that existed 66 million to 68 million years earlier. Nevertheless, a brand-new study that appeared this week concludes that the fossils belong to an entirely brand-new species called Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis.
Jawbone of Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis. Credit: Nick Longrich.
Artist impression of Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis. Credit: Sergei Krasinski.
Scars of the Past
The findings appeared in the journal Scientific Reports.
Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis wasnt just another dinosaur; it was a survivor. The scars on its jawbone mean a tumultuous life, most likely including intense battles with other tyrannosaurs or people coming from different types.
Previously, T. rexs closest known family members were thought to be from Asia. The emergence of T. mcraeensis points to Laramidia, an ancient landmass covering the western coast of North America between 100 and 66 million years back, as a prospective origin point for the tyrannosaur family tree.
Teeth of Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis. Credit: Nick Longrich.
For those eager to witness this piece of prehistoric puzzle, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque invites visitors to come in person with the fossil that began all of it.
Unlike numerous of its contemporaries found near coastlines, T. mcraeensis lived in a various setting, far from the sea. This raises interesting concerns about its way of life and the environment in which it flourished. With a size similar to, or possibly going beyond, that of T. rex, this species was most likely the pinnacle predator of its time. The concept that T. mcraeensis may have grown out of the infamous T. rex is a tantalizing possibility, though more specimens are required to verify this.
This species wandered the earth 70 to 73 million years ago, preceding T. rex by up to five million years. Could this be the predecessor to the king of dinosaurs? Unlike many of its contemporaries discovered near shorelines, T. mcraeensis lived in a various setting, far from the sea. With a size comparable to, or potentially exceeding, that of T. rex, this types was most likely the apex predator of its time. The concept that T. mcraeensis may have outgrown the infamous T. rex is an alluring possibility, though more specimens are needed to confirm this.