New discoveries by paleontologists in New Mexico have found a new ancestor that may have been a predecessor to the beloved Tyrannosaurus rex. The massive prehistoric killing machine, commonly referred to as T-Rex, has been a staple in films and books that discuss the state of our Earth before humanity took over.
Now, with the new studies being taken place by these New Mexico scientists, more light has been shed on the amazing beast that has been displayed proudly in museums, drawing awe from Americans, both young and old. This monumental finding has reshaped the way that scientists view the history of the most famous dinosaur species ever to walk the earth.
The reexamination of a T-Rex skull led to a massive finding. The beast was in North America millions of years before scientists had previously thought. This finding opens a new door into the study of dinosaurs and to the understanding upon which the American heartland is located.
Dr. Anthony Fiorillo is the Director of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. he discussed the finding and the greater meaning that has been gained from the most recent finding, saying, “New Mexicans have always known our state is special, now we know that New Mexico has been a special place for tens of millions of years. This study delivers on the mission of this museum through the science-based investigation of the history of life on our planet.”
The previous science stated that the T-Rex appeared suddenly in the American contingent 66 million years ago, with no prior warning and no sign of how they arrived. A researcher decided, however, that it was time to dig deeper and found that the T-Rex’s ancestor, named T. mcraeensis, was also present on the continent long before the famous dinosaur arrived, showing that the T-Rex may have evolved into creation in America.
Dr. Spencer Lucas, a paleontologist at NMMNHS, said, “Once again, the extent and scientific importance of New Mexico’s dinosaur fossils becomes clear — many new dinosaurs remain to be discovered in the state, both in the rocks and in museum drawers.”
Dr Nick Longrich works in the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath. He explained deeper what this means. He said, “The differences are subtle, but that’s typically the case in closely related species. Evolution slowly causes mutations to build up over millions of years, causing species to look subtly different over time. I started working on this project in 2013 with co-author Steve Jasinski and soon we started to suspect we were onto something new.”
This exciting find has huge ramifications for the entire world of Paleontology. Scientists all across the world are filled with new vigor and zeal and are beginning to reexamine previous findings to breathe new life into our understanding of the prehistoric world. For anyone interested in dinosaurs, the work being done at NMMNHS is groundbreaking and exciting in the best way. Keep your eye out for more interesting findings coming out of New Mexico.
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