Key Takeaways:
- 1. A longstanding debate in paleontology over the taxonomy of rare fossil specimens has been settled, confirming the existence of a new species called Nanotyrannus lancensis.
- 2. The new analysis, published in Nature, reclassifies another specimen as a second distinct species from N. lancensis, indicating that Nanotyrannus contains two species.
- 3. The findings suggest that there may have been multiple tyrannosaur species and that the diversity of dinosaurs from that period may have been underestimated.
After decades of debate, paleontologists have determined that the rare fossil specimens previously thought to be juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex actually belong to a new species, Nanotyrannus lancensis. A recent study published in Nature has confirmed the existence of this new species and reclassified another specimen as a separate species within Nanotyrannus, challenging previous assumptions about T. rex growth and behavior. The findings indicate a greater diversity of tyrannosaur species during that period than previously believed.
Insight: The discovery of Nanotyrannus lancensis and its distinction from T. rex highlights the complexity and diversity of dinosaur species during that era, potentially reshaping our understanding of tyrannosaur evolution and behavior.
This article was curated by memoment.jp from the feed source: Ars Technica.
Read the original article here: https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/10/nanotyrannus-species-confirmed-its-not-just-a-baby-t-rex/
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