Mini T. Rex Found

llustration by Todd Marshall via Science

Meet Raptorex kriegsteini, a new dinosaur species described this week in the journal Science. This “tiny” Tyrannosaurus rex ancestor would still look big to us at nine feet (three meters) tall., but quite small compared to its descendent T. rex. Other than the size difference, the two dinosaurs look remarkably alike, according to Paul Sereno of the University of Chicago and a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence.

This new dino changes the way scientists think about the evolution of T. rex‘s short arms. Raptorex kriegsteini also had short arms, meaning that T. rex‘s short arms evolved later than previously believed, according to Thomas Holtz of the University of Maryland (who is not associated with the study).

Learn more about this find on National Geographic News.

Get the facts on Tyrannosaurus rex on National Geographic Kids.

Search for T. rex bones in Zipper’s Cave Maze.

Learn
more about paleontologist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence
Paul Sereno on National Geographic.

Comments

boysrule
September 20, 2009, 11:59 am

Wow, I guess “tiny” isnt so tiny!

But, i think its awesome they found a new dino to their collection.
s2_animaluver_s2
September 21, 2009, 6:20 pm

So was this dino a new species that was recently discovered or is it just recently written about?
Can someone please answer? Thanks in advance.
hulahaley
September 21, 2009, 8:56 pm

i guess this is cool
but it’s just a new dino…

it’ll be cooler if it were i don’t
know maybe LIVING!!!!!
emshemie3
September 24, 2009, 5:24 pm

I do not believe such creatures lived millions or billions of years ago. Dinosaurs and all other “Prehistoric” animals were created on Day 5 (land-dwelling creatures including humans)and the Day before that was when the marine animals and also the birds(creatures of the air) were made. Nothing ever evolved. God created everything and that also includes the entire universe! The Bible speaks of Creation in the Book of Genesis. However there is much more found within Genesis. It speaks of how earth came to be and how mankind thrived. Are you familiar with the story of Noah’s Ark? It is no fantasy! But you may learn more of it than you knew before… I encourage everyone to attempt reading the Book of Genesis and the rest of the Bible, too. You may not believe it at first, but at least try it before rejecting it!
marineboy8991
September 29, 2009, 6:24 am

I agree with eshemie3
marineboy8991
September 29, 2009, 6:30 am

I still think it is cool though
marineboy8991
September 29, 2009, 6:32 am

Evolution never happened
Vortex01
October 2, 2009, 12:53 pm

It looks like a bird loosing all it feathers
Vortex01
October 2, 2009, 12:55 pm

I agree with emshemie3. One day to god is like a thousand years to us.
emshemie3
October 7, 2009, 3:53 pm

Thanks to those that are agreeing with me! I appreciate you guys with your support.
ivalouey
February 6, 2010, 6:00 pm

Forget the name T-REX…it should be tiny-rex!:)
ivalouey
February 6, 2010, 6:02 pm

P.S. emshemie3,you really should believe it!:)
animallover123
January 5, 2011, 9:35 pm

that is one creepy, horrible looking dinosaur. it looks like it had a haircut but the barber was to scared to continue.
animallover123
January 5, 2011, 9:36 pm

no problemo emshemie3, i’ll always believe you
Live4JesusHeDied4Me
January 8, 2012, 10:45 am

I agree with eshemi3 , If you are haveing trouble excepting the creation and flood , then you should really check out the canopy theory.
sussieq101
January 22, 2012, 7:13 pm

“The creation” is not real. Just except that this is evaluation!! All the dinosaurs were evolved. God never created the universe or anything! Like I said, EVALUATION! And the book of Genesis is all fake, emshemie3.