Dinosaur discovery: T-Rex fossil find opens ’window into the early lives of tyrannosaurs’

T-Rex hatchlings ‘different’ to full-grown dinosaurs claims expert

The Tyrannosaurus rex was among the largest predators ever to rule the Earth. But experts have now discovered surprisingly-cute baby tyrannosaurs were likely only the size of modern-day dogs when they took their first tentative steps.

The first known fossils of tyrannosaur embryos have revealed a wealth of data about the killer dinosaurs’ early development.

These bones are the first window into the early lives of tyrannosaurs and they teach us about the size and appearance of baby tyrannosaurs

Dr Greg Funston

The prehistoric predators have long been known to grow to 40ft (12m) across and weigh up to eight tons – far heavier than an adult elephant.

Palaeontologists, led by the University of Edinburgh, made the landmark dinosaur discovery after examining the fossilised remains of a tiny jaw and claw unearthed in Canada and the US.

Subsequent three-dimensional scans of the delicate remnants revealed they belonged to baby tyrannosaurs.

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These little-known cousins of T-Rex – stood approximately just three feet (1m) tall when first hatched, based on the fossils’ size.

The palaeontologists’ findings indicate T-Rex eggs were roughly 17 inches long.

This research is consequently understood as providing insight into the eggs – direct evidence of which has yet to be discovered.

This work will assist efforts to eventually recognise proof of these precious eggs and allow experts to learn much more about tyrannosaurs’ nesting habits.

The dinosaur experts’ analysis also found the 3cm-long jaw bone possesses distinctive tyrannosaur features.

These include a pronounced chin, suggesting their physical traits existed before the animals had even hatched.

Despite being one of the most studied dinosaur families, almost nothing is known about the earliest developmental stages of the tyrannosaurs, which patrolled the planet more than 70 million-years-ago.

Most tyrannosaur fossils previously studied have been of adult or older juveniles.

Dr Greg Funston, of the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences, who led the study, said: “These bones are the first window into the early lives of tyrannosaurs and they teach us about the size and appearance of baby tyrannosaurs.

“We now know that they would have been the largest hatchlings to ever emerge from eggs, and they would have looked remarkably like their parents — both good signs for finding more material in the future.”

The study augments research detailing exactly how T-Rex became king of the Cretaceous period.

Palaeontologists had long understood from fossil records how tyrannosaurs transitioned from small-bodied species to terrifying giants like the T-Rex over the course of eons.

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But dinosaur fossils discovered in 2016 suggest much of this transition and growth in size occurred in a sudden spurt at the end of this period.

The study also reveals how before the evolution of their massive size, tyrannosaurs had developed keen senses and cognitive abilities, such as the ability to hear low-frequency sounds.

This positioned them to take advantage of opportunities to reach the top of their food chain in the Late Cretaceous Period.

This occurred after other groups of large meat-eating dinosaurs had become extinct approximately 80 to 90 million years ago.

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