“Adolescent T. rex” Officially Reclassified as Distinct Species, Nanotyrannus lethaeus
BOZEMAN, MT - A new study published this week confirms that fossils previously considered juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex actually represent a separate, distinct species of tyrannosaur: Nanotyrannus lethaeus. The reclassification, led by paleontologists Lindsay Zanno and Joseph Napoli, resolves a decades-long debate and considerably alters our understanding of the dinosaur ecosystem during the Late Cretaceous period.
The name Nanotyrannus lethaeus-derived from the Greek “nanos” meaning dwarf and the Latin “Lethaeus,” referencing the river of oblivion in Greco-Roman mythology-reflects both the dinosaur’s smaller size and the “rebirth” of the fossil through this new interpretation. For years, smaller tyrannosaur specimens were dismissed as growth stages of T.rex. This research demonstrates anatomical differences that establish Nanotyrannus as a unique genus and species, painting a more complex picture of predator diversity in North America just before the extinction event.
Researchers propose that Nanotyrannus and T. rex coexisted, occupying diffrent ecological niches to avoid direct competition. Nanotyrannus is believed to have been a swift pursuit hunter, adapted for running down faster prey, while T. rex was a more powerful ambush predator specializing in larger or weakened animals. This division of hunting strategies would have allowed both species to thrive in the same surroundings during the final million years of the Cretaceous.
The study, published in [publication name unavailable from provided text], provides a more nuanced view of tyrannosaur evolution, suggesting Nanotyrannus represents a parallel, more agile branch within the tyrannosaur family tree. If further research confirms these findings, the reclassification of Nanotyrannus lethaeus will represent a major taxonomic shift in paleontology, revealing a more varied and intricate ecosystem than previously understood in the final days of the dinosaurs.
Source: Infobae.
