Scientists have made significant strides in resolving a longstanding debate regarding a dinosaur fossil unearthed in the 1940s. The question has been whether this specimen represents a young Tyrannosaurus rex or a distinct species altogether.
Initially, researchers only had access to a skull, complicating the determination of whether it belonged to a juvenile or an adult. The discovery of another skull and skeleton, referred to as “Jane,” contributed to the discussion but did not reach a definitive conclusion. Recently, a research team has presented new evidence that appears to clarify the situation.
The pivotal finding comes from a complete skeleton discovered in Montana in 2006, which scientists now assert belongs to its own species rather than being a juvenile T. rex. According to Lindsay Zanno, co-author of the study from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and North Carolina State University, this discovery fundamentally alters previous understanding of one of Earth”s most renowned predators.
Growth rings identified within the bones from Montana”s Hell Creek Formation indicate that the newly identified dinosaur was an adult, measuring approximately half the size of a mature T. rex. Comparisons with the growth patterns of other reptiles, such as crocodiles, revealed significant differences in the skull structure, nerve patterns, and sinuses. These characteristics suggest that the features observed did not merely result from the process of maturation.
The research suggests that this dinosaur is a relative of T. rex, specifically identified as Nanotyrannus lancensis. This conclusion was reported in a study published in the journal Nature.
Fossil bone expert Holly Woodward from Oklahoma State University, who was not involved in the study, expressed that there is now “more support and evidence than there ever has been” for the existence of this T. rex relative. However, she remains cautious about categorizing other specimens, such as Jane, as new species.
Other paleontologists have voiced that the debate surrounding these fossils is far from settled. Thomas Carr, a vertebrate paleontologist at Carthage College, noted that while the new skeleton is indeed an adult, it could represent a sister species to T. rex rather than a more distant relative. He indicated that the similarities between the skull shapes of T. rex and the unidentified specimens warrant further investigation.
Understanding the identity of this dinosaur is crucial for insights into the growth and development of T. rex. Moreover, it raises further questions about the dynamics of predation during the late Cretaceous period, approximately 67 million years ago. It remains unclear whether T. rex was the dominant predator of its time, or if smaller yet formidable predators also existed.
The newly identified skeleton has been referred to as “Dueling Dinosaurs” due to its discovery alongside the bones of a Triceratops. This remarkable finding is currently on display at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
