Paleontologists from the University of Alberta have identified a dinosaur skull discovered in a British Columbia campground as belonging to a new species of tyrannosaur, a smaller and faster relative of the Tyrannosaurus rex. The study, published in 2026, describes the specimen as a 'great-uncle' of the famous T. rex.
The fossil was found in 2023 at a campground in the Peace Region of northeastern British Columbia. Researchers analyzed the skull and other remains, concluding they represent a previously unknown species that lived about 80 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period.
This new tyrannosaur was lighter and more agile than its larger cousin, likely relying on speed to hunt prey. The discovery sheds light on the diversity of tyrannosaurs in North America before the rise of the T. rex.
