New Dinosaur Discovery Reshapes T.rex Family Tree

Scientists have made an exciting discovery in Mongolia - a new species of dinosaur that is reshaping our understanding of tyrannosaur evolution. Named Khankhuuluu mongoliensis, or 'Dragon Prince of Mongolia', this dinosaur lived about 86 million years ago.

Khankhuuluu is now considered the closest known ancestor of all tyrannosaurs, including the famous T.rex. It was smaller than T.rex, weighing about 750kg, but larger than earlier tyrannosaur ancestors. This makes it a crucial 'transitional' fossil, bridging the gap between small, early tyrannosaurs and the giant predators that came later.

The discovery was made by examining two partial skeletons in a Mongolian museum. Initially thought to be a known species, closer study revealed unique features that identified it as a new species. This finding is helping scientists revise the tyrannosaur family tree and better understand how these fearsome predators evolved over time.