All articles tagged with #tyrannosaurus rex
A PeerJ study analyzing 17 Tyrannosaurus rex specimens with advanced imaging of leg bones finds growth to full size took about 40 years, far longer than the previous 25-year estimate, reshaping our understanding of T. rex development, its ecological roles, and prompting talk of possible separate species like Nanotyrannus.
A broad analysis of 17 Tyrannosaurus rex specimens indicates the species continued growing for about 40 years, reaching roughly eight tons, with growth rings detected via new imaging methods and a composite growth curve that stitches data from multiple individuals. The findings suggest a longer life history than previously thought and raise questions about whether some well-known fossils belong to related species such as Nanotyrannus.
A Royal Society Open Science study analyzing T. rex footprints and leg anatomy finds the giant predator walked on its toes with birdlike, quick strides rather than heel-first stomping. Juveniles could reach over 37 ft/s and adults about 20 ft/s, suggesting different hunting behaviors as they aged and reinforcing the link between tyrannosaurs and living birds.
A large study of 17 tyrannosaur fossils using expanded histology and advanced statistics finds Tyrannosaurus rex reached its adult mass of about eight tons after roughly 40 years, slower and more variable than previously thought. The work uncovers previously overlooked growth rings, suggests a longer subadult phase, and raises questions about whether some specimens (including Jane and Petey) belong to a separate Nanotyrannus-like species, reshaping debates about tyrannosaur growth and diversity.
A peer‑reviewed study analyzing growth rings in 17 T. rex leg bones shows full adult size was reached around ages 35–40, with rapid growth from 14 to 29 and extended growth for at least a decade afterward, implying a longer subadult phase and prompting renewed questions about species boundaries within fossils labeled T. rex.
A study of 17 T. rex specimens shows the giant predator grew more slowly and lived longer than previously thought, not reaching around eight tons until about 35–40 years old, which helps explain its sustained dominance and varied life niches.
A new peer-reviewed study of 17 Tyrannosaurus rex fossils used growth rings revealed by polarized light to map year-by-year growth, showing T. rex took 35–40 years to reach full size and grew for four decades to about 8 tons, with an estimated lifespan of 45–50 years. This large dataset yields a revised growth curve and suggests a lengthy juvenile phase may have helped juveniles occupy varied ecological roles before the species became a dominant late-Cretaceous apex predator.
A study of 17 Tyrannosaurus rex fossils using polarized light reveals growth rings showing they grew slowly, not reaching a maximum size of about 8 tons until about 35–40 years old. Growth rings capture only the last 10–20 years of life, but by combining data across ages researchers reconstructed year-by-year growth, finding more variability and suggesting possible taxonomic differences such as Nanotyrannus; the findings revise the dinosaur’s growth timeline and how it occupied various ecological niches.
Researchers have confirmed that Nanotyrannus is a distinct, fully grown species of tyrannosaur, not a juvenile T. rex, revealing a more diverse and competitive predator ecosystem at the end of the Cretaceous and reshaping our understanding of dinosaur evolution.
Researchers have identified a new species of small tyrannosaur, Nanotyrannus lancensis, from fossils previously thought to be juvenile T. rex, challenging long-held beliefs and suggesting multiple small tyrannosaur species coexisted with T. rex.
A family hiking in the North Dakota Badlands discovered a rare juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex fossil, which has been identified as the most complete T. rex specimen ever collected by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The discovery, made in 2022, has led to an 11-day excavation and plans for further exploration.
Three boys discovered a rare T. rex fossil in North Dakota's Hell Creek Formation, which has been transported to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science for preparation and display. The fossil, named "The Brothers," includes significant parts of the dinosaur and will be featured in a special exhibit and documentary.
A newly discovered giant dinosaur species, Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis, may be the closest known relative of Tyrannosaurus rex, and could represent the moment the genus experimented with a huge body. The distinction of this new species was confirmed through examinations of its fossilized skull, which was found in New Mexico and lived around five million years before T. rex. The discovery suggests that T. rex may have evolved in Western North America, and the findings also shed light on the evolution of giant body sizes in tyrannosaurids.
The debate over whether "Nanotyrannus lancensis" was a unique species or a young T. rex continues to stir controversy, with some arguing that the fossils attributed to "Nanotyrannus" are simply those of adolescent T. rex. Despite decades of debate and multiple studies, the consensus among tyrannosaur experts is that there's no solid case for "Nanotyrannus." The controversy has inflated the prices of tyrannosaur fossils at auctions, with a recent skeleton listed for sale at $20 million, reigniting the debate. However, the scientific community remains unconvinced, and the focus on "Nanotyrannus" is seen as a distraction from more meaningful paleontological research and conservation efforts.
A newly identified relative of the Tyrannosaurus rex, named Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis, has been discovered in New Mexico, dating back 72-73 million years. The creature, which predates T. rex by up to 7 million years, differs in jaw robustness and the absence of a prominent ridge over its eyes. The findings suggest that massive tyrannosaurs likely emerged as an evolutionary adaptation to the availability of large herbivores, but the reasons for the evolution of giant plant-eating dinosaurs remain a mystery. The research team plans to return to the site to search for more bones and understand the environment in which T. mcraeensis lived.