Canadian Man Discovers New T-Rex Species Fossil, 250 Years Earlier Than Tyrannosaurus Rex

Source: CNN

Recently, a Canadian man discovered a new species of T-Rex fossil, which is also one of the oldest T-Rex species ever found in Canada. This discovery fills the gap in Canada's understanding of T-Rex evolution.

According to CNN, Canadian man John De Groot recently discovered a T-Rex skull during a hike in Alberta, Canada. The uniqueness of the fossil, especially the vertical spine connecting the jaws, helped researchers determine that it was a new species.

The report says that this fossil is the first new T-Rex fossil discovered in Canada in 50 years, and has been named Thanatotheristes degrootorum, primarily composed of two parts, the first part taken from the Greek god of death Thanatos, and the second part to commemorate De Groot's discovery of the fossil.

Source: CNN

Researchers believe that approximately 8000 million years ago, Thanatotheristes was a powerful predator in North America today, with a body length of 8-10 meters and a weight of more than 2 tons, and it is one of the oldest T-Rex species ever discovered in North America, about 250 years earlier than its close relative Tyrannosaurus Rex. It is understood that the fossils will be exhibited in the Alberta Royal Tyrrell Museum in late autumn this year.

"This discovery is significant because it fills the gap in our understanding of T-Rex evolution," said Dr. Francois Therrien, curator of the Dinosaur Paleoecology Gallery at the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

Over the years, many dinosaur fossils have been discovered in Canada, especially in Alberta Province. The only museum in Canada dedicated to the study of ancient life – the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology – was also built there. (Overseas Network/Wei Xuewei Intern/Zhang Haitong)

Editor: Liu Jie