The Tyrannosaurus rex species is one of the world’s most shocking dinosaur fossils. About a century ago scientists managed to identify the existence of fossils of this dinosaur species.
From the results of bone reconstruction, the dinosaur, which is familiar with the name T-rex, was a carnivore or meat-eater during its lifetime.
Entering the 2000s, T-rex fossils are almost never identified again. However, the statement of fossil research scientists was surprising.
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New Group of Tyrannosaurus Rex Species?
Tyrannosaurus rex is one of the ancient animals. It belongs to the species of meat-eating or carnivorous dinosaurs.
This one giant predator lived about 68 to 66 million years ago. Many of the T-rex species live in North America today.
Scientists discovered the first T-rex fossils more than a century ago. However, during these decades very few skeletons were identified.
More recent discoveries of T-rex fossils have been revealed since the 1990s. At the time, Scott Persons of the College of Charleston in South Carolina provided the possibility for researchers to assess whether Tyrannosaurus rex belonged to a single species or not.
To ensure this, scientists finally made a research team. Persons and colleagues conducted follow-up studies with a total of 38 bones from existing T-rex fossils.
In this study, they focused on examining the number of front teeth in the lower jaw and the strength of the band bones. The result of this turned out to be a bit surprising.
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There are Estimates of Three Different Species
Observations of fossils of the Tyrannosaurus rex species are astounding. The research team that Persons led managed to reach a new hypothesis, namely that T-rex is divided into three different species.
The possibility arose when they managed to find variations in the two features. According to the research team, these features are evidence of the separation of T-rex into three distinct species.
The oldest animal had four small incisors in the front of the lower jaw and sturdy thighs which later became a new species, namely Tyrannosaurus imperator.
After the discovery the researchers believe that the dinosaurs evolved into two younger species. Both have two small incisors on the front of the lower jaw.
One of the younger species has a slender femur and lighter body named Tyrannosaurus regina. Furthermore, another second species has a more muscular thigh still with the name Tyrannosaurus rex.
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“Modern ecosystems have shown that apex predators evolved into different species, such as lions and leopards,” explains Persons.
This conclusion pivots on some of the most famous Tyrannosaurus fossils such as the Tyrannosaurus at Chicago’s Field Museum which includes T.imperator. Unfortunately, the results of this study are still causing debate among research scientists.
The variation of the bones of the Tyrannosaurus rex species is still so small that it can not be strong evidence. The evidence in recent papers is weak and further research is needed to confirm this. (R10/HR-Online)
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