Fossils of the
T. rex
The “tyrant lizard” and the “queen of the dinosaurs,” which are exclusive to North America, share more characteristics with other massive theropods from Asia rather than with their hunting counterparts in the U.S. and Canada.
A new study
published in the journal
Royal Society Open Science
They may have finally uncovered the reason for this. By examining the fossils and evolutionary background of T. rex and associated dinosaur families, paleontologists propose that T. rex became the prehistoric celebrity of Universal’s movies.
Jurassic Park
and
Jurassic World
films
It originated in North America but traces its ancestry back to descendants that moved from Asia approximately 70 million years ago.
Tracking the beginnings of Tyrannosaurus rex
Paleontologists debate over whether the direct ancestors of Tyrannosaurs came from North America or Asia. A new study led by University College London Ph.D student Cassius Morrison may have answered the question once and for all.
Our modeling indicates that the ancestors of T. rex most likely originated in Asia before migrating to North America via the Bering Strait, which today separates Siberia from Alaska,” said researcher Cassius Morrison.
through the Natural History Museum in London
This aligns with previous studies suggesting that the T. rex had closer ties to its Asian counterparts rather than to North American species like Daspletosaurus. We found evidence indicating that although numerous T. rex remains have been discovered in North America, the fossilized remnants of its immediate predecessor might remain hidden somewhere in Asia.
The Earth 90 million years ago had a somewhat distinct appearance. Traveling even further back, around 250 million years ago, all of the planet’s continents were merged into one supercontinent.
the supercontinent Pangaea
Approximately 200 million years ago, it started to fragment, dividing into the primeval northern continent known as Laurasia and the southern one called Gondwanaland. During the Cretaceous period, which spanned from 144 to 66 million years ago, these contemporary continental bodies had drifted apart yet remained closely positioned. The North American region split into two distinct continents: Laramidia in the western part and Appalachia in the eastern section, divided by what became known as the Western Interior Seaway. At this juncture, movement across these landmasses was somewhat more straightforward compared with today’s conditions.
These ancient forebears of tyrannosaurs were considerably smaller compared to their well-known successors. While some resembled medium-sized dogs, others could perch snugly upon one’s shoulders. It was approximately 90 million years ago, following the demise of the large-bodied carcharodontosaurid theropods, that they began to grow larger. Seizing this unoccupied ecological role, tyrannosaurs developed from these tiny progenitors into dominant hunters during the Late Cretaceous period.
At around the same time when the carcharodontosaurids disappeared, Earth experienced a phase of swift cooling. Global temperatures had peaked during what’s called the Cretaceous Thermal Maximum roughly 92 million years ago before dropping. During this period, tyrannosaurids along with another group of formidable large predators known as the
megaraptors
endured as they were more adapted to colder climates and grew to enormous dimensions to occupy the vacant ecological role.
“Our research has illuminated the emergence of the biggest tyrannosaurs in North and South America throughout the Cretaceous period and explored the reasons behind their massive growth leading up to the dinosaur era’s conclusion,” explained Charlie Scherer, who is affiliated with University College London as well.
via
Sci News
.
Regardless of how Rexy arrived, we’re simply delighted she made it because she provides fantastic amusement! Don’t miss Jurassic World Dominion.
streaming now on Peacock
, and
get your tickets
For “Jurassic World Rebirth,” showing in theaters starting July 2.
