Scientists Found New Species of Tyrannosaur in Canada

Canadian researchers have recently discovered a novel species of dinosaur. They surmise it has a close relationship with Tyrannosaurus rex that survived across the plain of North America around 80 million years before. After recognizing a fossil unearthed in Canada, the researchers learned the remains belong to Thanatotheristes degrootorum. Prof. Darla Zelenitsky, from Canada’s University of Calgary, said they had selected a name that incorporates the name of solely-know tyrannosaur, a giant apex predator in ancient Canada. She added the nickname of the new dinosaur is Thanatos. The researchers also said it is one of the ancient species ever present in North America. The name of the species refers to the dinosaur’s character, a frightening apex predator. Even more, it is inspired by a Greek god of death, Thanatos, and theristes, one who secures or harvests.

Tyrannosaurs are one of the most dangerous species of giant predatory dinosaurs that resided around many millions of years ago. Jared Voris, leading author of the study, said Thanatotheristes differ from all other types of tyrannosaurs by a number of attributes of the skull. He added the most noticeable features are the vertical ridges that form the span of the upper jawbone. Voris noted these ridges are very different from the ones they have noticed in other species of tyrannosaur. According to the researchers, the novel species ranged between 26-30 feet long. Even more, they surmise a grown-up adult had a weight of around 2 tons.

Zelenitsky, a corresponding author of the study, said there is a small number of tyrannosaurids’ species because of the being of the food chain. He added those large predators have remained uncommon as that of plant-eating or herbivorous dinosaurs. The study has discovered that Thanatos has a deep, lengthy snout like that of tyrannosaurs that survived across the southern US. Currently, the scientists have only a pair of jaws and skulls of the newly-discovered tyrannosaur. But it is essential to find the hind limbs. Thus researchers say the unearthed fossils are insufficient to describe the creature as a new-found species.