Mongolia News

A groundbreaking discovery in Mongolia introduces a new species of dinosaur, named Khankhuuluu mongoliensis, which is heralded as the closest known ancestor of all tyrannosaurs, including the famous T.rex. Researchers uncovered this significant find in two 86 million-year-old skeletons housed in a Mongolian museum. The findings, published in the journal Nature, reveal insights into the evolutionary journey of tyrannosaurs, which dominated the prehistoric landscape until the dinosaurs' extinction. Prof. Darla Zelenitsky from the University of Calgary notes that Khankhuuluu was a smaller, early tyrannosauroid weighing around 750 kg, in stark contrast to the T.rex, which could weigh up to eight times more. The discovery indicates a crucial transition in size and predatory adaptation, showcasing early features that eventually enabled tyrannosaurs to become formidable hunters. PhD student Jared Voris, who led the research, highlighted the evolutionary significance of these findings, stating, “This discovery shows us that, before tyrannosaurs became the kings, they were princes.” The research underscores the dynamic movement of these dinosaurs between North America and Asia, facilitating their evolutionary diversification.