In the United States found the remains of “cousin” Tyrannosaurus Rex
Paleontologists have discovered the fossilized remains of a large carnivorous dinosaur on the east coast of the United States. Studies have shown that he was a relative of the Tyrannosaurus rex and surpassed his “cousin” in strength and size, reports The Daily Mail.
The dinosaur, which was given the name Merchantville tyrannosauroid, had longer front legs, more powerful legs and longer claws. Its age was estimated at 80 million years. He lived in what is now New Jersey, which in ancient times was part of an isolated land area surrounded by water.
Each new find allows scientists to better study the inhabitants of this “lost world” and understand how living in isolation influenced the evolution of dinosaurs. So, it is believed that tyrannosaurs were similar to each other. But, as the study showed, they could evolve to the position of top predators in different ways. Individuals living in the east of North America were markedly different from those living on the western shores or Asia.
The most famous is the Tyrannosaurus rex. But he was not alone – scientists have established that at the end of the Cretaceous period there were nine species of tyrannosaurs on Earth. Probably, with the discovery of new fossils, their list will be replenished.
Previously, scientists found that the jaws of a Tyrannosaurus rex were arranged in a special way. They were equipped with a complex system of nerve endings.
