Scientists have unveiled an exciting discovery in the world of palaeontology: a new dinosaur species that may revolutionize our understanding of tyrannosaur evolution. Found in a collection at a Mongolian museum, the species has been named Khankhuuluu mongoliensis, which translates to "Dragon Prince of Mongolia." This newly identified dinosaur is said to be the closest known ancestor to the infamous T.rex, marking a significant shift in the tyrannosaur family tree.
The research team, which published their findings in Nature, examined two skeletons that date back approximately 86 million years. They observed that Khankhuuluu provides a crucial link between smaller, fleet-footed predators of the Jurassic era and the formidable giants of the later Cretaceous period, including T.rex. "Prince" refers to this being an early member of the tyrannosauroid lineage, which eventually produced some of the mightiest carnivores known to science.
Lead researcher Jared Voris, a PhD student at the University of Calgary, noted that the discovery reveals how these ancient predators evolved. Khankhuuluu would have weighed around 750 kg, dwarfing its earlier, smaller relatives that scurried around amidst larger predators. The fossil showcases key evolutionary traits that contributed to the power of later tyrannosaurs, including a strong jaw and features in its nasal bone that would lead to the extreme bite force characteristic of its descendants.
Initially thought to belong to another species, Alectrosaurus, Voris reclassified the skeletons after recognizing their unique attributes. “I remember getting a text from him– that he thought this was a new species,” reflected Prof. Darla Zelenitsky, a co-author of the study. The fossils' history dates back to their discovery in Mongolia during the 1970s but were not fully understood until this recent research.
Moreover, the ability of these dinosaurs to migrate between continents through land bridges that once connected Siberia and Alaska played a crucial role in the evolution of different tyrannosaur groups over millions of years. As Prof. Zelenitsky aptly stated, "This discovery shows us that, before tyrannosaurs became the kings, they were princes." This groundbreaking research not only enhances our grasp of dinosaur lineage but also emphasizes the significance of each species in the evolutionary chain that led to the iconic T.rex.
