Scientists Identify 120-Million-Year-Old T. rex Cousin From 100-Year-Old Museum Fossil
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Oct 14
Scientists Identify 120-Million-Year-Old T. rex Cousin From 100-Year-Old Museum Fossil
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Oct 14
Summary
A skull fragment stored at London’s Natural History Museum since 1924 has been identified as Invictibellatrix amberina, a previously unknown dinosaur species described in Royal Society Open Science.
CT scans and a 3D model of the fossil showed unique skull features linking it to megaraptorans—close relatives of tyrannosaurs—but with long arms and giant curved claws rather than a bite-led hunting style.
Researchers said the predator lived about 120 million years ago, measured roughly 10 to 13 feet long and nearly 5 feet tall, and likely hunted smaller dinosaurs, lizards and mammals.
The find adds one of the earliest and smallest known megaraptorans to the fossil record and highlights how overlooked museum specimens can reshape scientists’ picture of dinosaur evolution.