King of dinosaurs had a miniature version called raptorex kriegsteiniThursday, September 17, 2009
Just when scientists thought they'd got the measure of dinosaurs, along comes a new find that has got them scratching their heads in disbelief.
A miniature version of tyrannosaurus rex has been unearthed in China which looks every bit like the king of the dinosaurs ... but is 100 times lighter.
The dinosaur, named raptorex kriegsteini, lived 125million years ago – 65 million years before the larger carnivore evolved.
Previously, it had been assumed the giant tyrannosaurs had developed an enormous head and 'pathetically tiny' forearms purely as a result of growing so big. However, the raptorex 'really throws a wrench into this observed pattern', said Stephen Brusatte, from the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
'Much of what we thought we knew about tyrannosaur evolution turns out to be simplistic or out-and-out wrong.
'One new specimen can completely change our understanding about the evolution of ancient life.'
Dr Paul Serano, who lead a team from the University of Chicago in examining the fossils, said: 'We have a new species of dinosaur but what's really important about it is that it's a blueprint for what would become in later years.'
He said the dinosaur bones had been unearthed in Inner Mongolia and 'secretly spirited' out of the country.
They are to be returned to a museum in the region.
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?Meet_the_Mini-Me_of_T-rex&in_article_id=740166&in_page_id=34
See also: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/minime-trex-unearthed-in-china-1789433.html
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