A team of paleontologists from the University of Bath, Montana State University, and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science has identified a new species of giant tyrannosaur from fossils discovered in New Mexico. The species, named Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis, is described in a study published in the journal Scientific Reports in January 2024.
The fossils, originally unearthed in the Hall Lake Formation in the early 1980s, were previously thought to belong to Tyrannosaurus rex. However, detailed analysis of the skull and other bones revealed distinct features, such as a less prominent brow ridge and differences in the jaw, indicating it is a separate species. The dinosaur lived between 73 and 71 million years ago, predating T. rex by about 5 to 7 million years.
This discovery suggests that giant tyrannosaurs originated in southern North America, challenging the long-held belief that they evolved in Asia. The study's lead author, Sebastian Dalman, noted that T. mcraeensis was likely a top predator in its ecosystem, comparable in size to T. rex, reaching up to 12 meters in length.
The findings provide new insights into the evolution and geographic distribution of tyrannosaurs, highlighting the diversity of these iconic dinosaurs in the Late Cretaceous period.
