Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    April 28, 2024

    April 28, 2024

    April 28, 2024
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Hote NewsHote News
    • Health Science
    • Lifestyle
    • Politics
    • Reel
    • Sports
    • Travel
    • Worklife
    Hote NewsHote News
    Worklife

    Debate Resolved: ‘Teenage T. Rex’ Skulls Misidentified

    January 3, 2024
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Fossils once thought to be the skulls of teenage Tyrannosaurus Rexes actually belonged to a different species of dinosaur, scientists have concluded.

    First unearthed in Montana, US, in 1942, the remains have been the subject of debate as to whether they were from junior T. Rexes or from Nanotyrannus lancensis – smaller relatives of the iconic dinosaurs.

    According to research from the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath, the fossils were from adult dinosaurs, meaning the 66-million-year-old remains are more likely from the Nanotyrannus.

    The university’s Dr Nick Longrich said he was “pretty blown away” by the findings, based on analysis of growth rings in the fossilised bones and modelling of the growth of the animals.

    “I didn’t expect it to be quite so conclusive,” he said. “If they were young T. Rex they should be growing like crazy, putting on hundreds of kilograms a year, but we’re not seeing that.

    “We tried modelling the data in a lot of different ways and we kept getting low growth rates.

    “This is looking like the end for the hypothesis that these animals are young T. Rex.”

    Read more:
    Last meal of T. Rex revealed after stomach contents preserved in fossil
    T. Rex may have used small arms for mating

    Comparison of T. rex and Nanotyrannus skulls. Pic: Longrich et al/ Fossil Studies/PA Wire

    Image:
    Comparison of T. rex and Nanotyrannus skulls. Pic: Longrich et al/ Fossil Studies/PA Wire

    Comparison of Nanotyrannus and Tyrannosaurus skulls. Pic: Longrich et al/ Fossil Studies/PA Wire

    Image:
    Pic: Longrich et al/ Fossil Studies/PA Wire

    In the University of Bath’s modelling, researchers noted that the dinosaurs studied would have grown to a maximum size of around 900 to 1,500 kilograms and five metres, about 15% of the size of an adult T. Rex.

    Dr Longrich added: “In the same way that kittens look like cats and puppies look like dogs, the juveniles of different tyrannosaurs are distinctive.

    “And Nanotyrannus just doesn’t look anything like a T. Rex… The arms are actually longer than those of T. Rex.

    “Even the biggest T. Rex, has shorter arms and smaller claws than in these little Nanotyrannus.

    “This was an animal where the arms were actually pretty formidable weapons. It’s really just a completely different animal – small, fast, agile.

    “T. Rex relied on size and strength, but this animal relied on speed.”

    The report was published in the journal Fossil Studies.

    Post Views: 2
    Related Posts

    April 28, 2024

    April 28, 2024

    April 28, 2024

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Top Posts

    Controversial Israeli Video Sparks Gaza Hospital Information Battle

    November 14, 2023

    April 28, 2024

    Met Police commander sacked for failing drug test

    November 1, 2023

    European Council President calls for revival of multilateralism

    November 1, 2023
    About Us
    About Us

    We’re impartial and independent, and every day we create distinctive, world-class programmes and content which inform, educate and entertain millions of people in the UK and around the world.

    Email Us: info@hotenews.com

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn WhatsApp TikTok Discord Telegram Threads RSS
    Our Picks

    April 28, 2024

    April 28, 2024

    April 28, 2024
    Most Popular

    Controversial Israeli Video Sparks Gaza Hospital Information Battle

    November 14, 2023

    April 28, 2024

    Met Police commander sacked for failing drug test

    November 1, 2023
    © 2025 Hotenews
    • Privacy Policy
    • Get In Touch

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.