Groundbreaking Discovery: New Dinosaur Species Reshapes the T. rex Family Tree!

Scientists have made an exciting discovery: a new dinosaur species called Khankhuuluu mongoliensis. This find is crucial as it sheds light on the evolution of tyrannosaurs, including the famous T. rex.

The two skeletons studied are about 86 million years old and were found in a Mongolian museum. Researchers believe this species is the closest known ancestor of all tyrannosaurs. The name Khankhuuluu means "Dragon Prince of Mongolia," hinting at its significance in the dinosaur family tree.

According to Prof. Darla Zelenitsky from the University of Calgary, the term "prince" reflects that this dinosaur was a smaller, earlier form of tyrannosaurs. Initially, tyrannosauroids were tiny, fast predators that lived in the shadows of larger dinosaurs. Khankhuuluu marks a transitional phase from these small hunters to the massive predators that dominated their ecosystems.

Interestingly, early estimates suggest Khankhuuluu weighed around 750 kg. T. rex, in contrast, could weigh as much as eight times that. Prof. Zelenitsky explained that this makes Khankhuuluu a "transitional fossil" on the path to larger tyrannosaurs.

Recent research indicated that its skull had features that contributed to the powerful jaws seen in later species. This adaptation was crucial for T. rex, enabling it to attack larger prey, and even bite through bones. According to Jared Voris, the lead researcher, the nascent characteristics in Khankhuuluu help us understand the evolutionary advantages that made tyrannosaurs such formidable predators.

The skeletons, initially thought to belong to another species called Alectrosaurus, were re-evaluated, leading to this groundbreaking classification. The move of these dinosaurs across what are now Alaska and Siberia created diverse evolutionary pathways, allowing various tyrannosaur groups to thrive in North America and Asia.

As paleontological studies progress, Khankhuuluu gives us a clearer view of how these ancient giants evolved. It emphasizes that before tyrannosaurs were at the top of the food chain, they were notably smaller hunters slowly evolving into the mighty creatures we recognize today.

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