Photo: ROGER HARRIS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Science Photo Library / Getty Images
Paleontologists have discovered a new dinosaur species related to the Tyrannosaurus rex, named Khankhuuluu mongoliensis. The fossils, found in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia in the 1970s, were initially thought to belong to another species. However, recent analysis by researchers, including Jared Voris from the University of Calgary, revealed unique features that distinguish it as a new species.
The new species, described as a "prince of dragons," lived around 86 million years ago and is considered a transitional form between smaller tyrannosaurs and the massive T. rex. Khankhuuluu mongoliensis was a medium-sized predator, roughly the size of a large predatory horse, weighing about 1,700 pounds and measuring 13 feet in length. Its discovery fills a crucial gap in the tyrannosaur family tree, helping scientists understand the evolution of these massive predators.
The study, published in the journal Nature, highlights the importance of Khankhuuluu mongoliensis in tracing the dispersal patterns of tyrannosaurs between Asia and North America. The new species is considered a "missing link" that provides insights into how smaller tyrannosaurs evolved into the giants like T. rex.