Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in Mongolia, unearthing a new species of dinosaur that rewrits the history of tyrannosaurs. The newly identified species, named Khankhuuluu mongoliensis, is now considered the closest known ancestor of all tyrannosaurs.
According to researchers, two 86 million-year-old skeletons studied belonged to this ancient predator, which lived during the Jurassic period and was significantly smaller than the iconic T.rex. The team found that it weighed around 750kg, while a mature T.rex could have weighed up to eight times that amount.
The discovery sheds new light on how tyrannosaurs evolved from small, fleet-footed predators to formidable giants, including the mighty T.rex. Prof Darla Zelenitsky and Jared Voris, who led the research, believe that Khankhuuluu represents a transitional phase between earlier ancestors and the iconic tyrannosaurs.
Key features of Khankhuuluu include its strong jaw anatomy, which eventually developed in tyrannosaurs to give them powerful bite forces. The discovery also reveals early stages of features that allowed T.rex to pounce on larger prey and even bite through bone.
The team’s findings suggest that the movement of dinosaurs between North America and Asia via land bridges played a significant role in their evolution, leading to different tyrannosaur groups emerging over millions of years. Prof Zelenitsky adds, “This discovery shows us that before tyrannosaurs became kings, they were princes.”
With this groundbreaking discovery, scientists have rewritten the evolutionary history of tyrant lizards, providing new insights into the evolution of these formidable predators.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8dzv3vp5jo