The Discovery
Researchers working in Canada have identified a new relative of Tyrannosaurus rex. The carnivorous dinosaur lived 77 million years ago, reached 8 metres in length, and possessed long, lean legs. Initial foot fossils of the creature were gathered in southern Alberta during 2010 and 2011. Following further excavations, paleontologists including Mark Powers at the University of Alberta analyzed its skeleton and confirmed the specimen represents a distinct species named Tromerosaurus solumons.
What Scientists Found
Historically, the tyrannosaur family is split into two groups: heavy-bodied tyrannosaurines with relatively long heads, and lighter albertosaurines with shorter skulls. Measurements of this newly uncovered skeleton revealed an unusual blend of physical traits from both subfamilies:
- A hole near the front of its upper jaw, similar to the robust tyrannosaurine Daspletosaurus.
- A small sinus system resembling the albertosaurine Gorgosaurus libratus.
- An isolated horn situated over its eye, which inspired part of its scientific name translating to "frightful lizard" and "lonely mountain."
Despite these mixed characteristics, scientists classified the predator as an early member of the albertosaurine group.
Why It Matters
The discovery complicates previous understanding of how tyrannosaurs evolved. Instead of a direct, step-by-step progression culminating in T. rex, the anatomy of Tromerosaurus solumons indicates that multiple branches of tyrannosaurs likely persisted until the end-Cretaceous. Paleontologists suggest that current guidelines for defining tyrannosaur subfamilies may be less informative than once thought and require re-examination. According to Jared Voris of the University of Calgary, searching deeper into the geological record—specifically rocks aged 78 to 79 million years—will be crucial to clarifying the evolutionary path of these ancient reptiles.
Source: dinosaur fossil discovery - BingNews · Published October 20, 2026 · Photo by Anthony Enrriquez on Unsplash