New Dinosaur Species Rewrites T.rex Family History
Scientists have unearthed a new tyrannosaur ancestor,Khankhuuluu mongoliensis,fundamentally rewriting the understanding of tyrannosaur evolution and its predatory traits. this meaningful discovery, made in Mongolia, places Khankhuuluu as the closest known relative to T. rex, offering unprecedented insights into the lineage of these formidable dinosaurs. The fossil unveils the early advancement of traits like robust jaws and powerful bite forces,key adaptations that enabled these creatures to dominate the ancient world. Researchers now understand how these ancestors,once smaller and more agile,transitioned into the apex predators of their time. News Directory 3 reports on the findings,which prompt revisions to the tyrannosaur family tree. Discover what’s next for the study of these ancient giants.
New Dinosaur Species Rewrites Tyrannosaur Evolution
Updated June 12, 2025
A newly identified dinosaur species, found within a Mongolian museum’s collection, is changing what scientists know
about the evolutionary history of tyrannosaurs. Researchers determined that two 86 million-year-old skeletons
belong to Khankhuuluu mongoliensis, now considered the closest known ancestor to all tyrannosaurs,
including the famed T. rex.
ancestor.
The finding, detailed in the journal Nature, provides insights into how tyrannosaurs evolved into the
apex predators that dominated North America and asia during the dinosaur age.
Darla zelenitsky, a paleontologist at the University of Calgary, explained that the name “Prince” in
Khankhuuluu refers to its status as an early, smaller tyrannosauroid. Tyrannosauroids are a superfamily
of carnivorous dinosaurs that walked on two legs.
Early tyrannosauroids were small, agile predators, according to Jared Voris, who led the research with Zelenitsky.
Khankhuuluu marks a transition from thes smaller hunters to the giant tyrannosaurs like T. rex.
Weighing around 750 kg, Khankhuuluu is significantly smaller than an adult T. rex, which could weigh up
to eight times more.Zelenitsky described it as a transitional fossil between earlier ancestors and the mighty
tyrannosaurs. The discovery has prompted a revision of the tyrannosaur family tree, enhancing our understanding
of tyrannosaur evolution.
The species exhibits early development of features crucial to tyrannosaurs, including skull anatomy that enabled a
strong jaw. Voris noted features in its nasal bone that would eventually give tyrannosaurs their powerful bite
forces, allowing them to prey on larger animals and even bite through bone.
The two partial skeletons were initially discovered in Mongolia in the early 1970s and misclassified as
Alectrosaurus. Upon re-examination, Voris identified distinct tyrannosaur-like features.
The ability of these dinosaurs to move between North America and Asia via land bridges facilitated their
occupation of different ecological niches. This movement, according to Voris, drove the evolution of different
tyrannosaur groups over millions of years.
Zelenitsky concluded, “This discovery shows us that, before tyrannosaurs became the kings, thay were they were
pr