Paleontologists have uncovered a previously unknown dinosaur species named Khankhuuluu, identified as the closest-known ancestor of the enormous Tyrannosaurs.
The discovery comes from an international research collaboration led by Jared Voris and Dr. Darla Zelenitsky from the Faculty of Science at the University of Calgary. Their findings are detailed in the journal Nature.
The study’s first author and a PhD candidate in the Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment, Khankhuuluu lived around 86 million years ago. It was a medium-sized, fast-moving predator that emerged after the decline of earlier large carnivorous dinosaurs.
Scientists describe Khankhuuluu as the nearest known ancestor to the massive Tyrannosaurs made famous in popular culture, including Jurassic Park.
“This new species provides us the window into the ascent stage of Tyrannosaur evolution; right when they’re transitioning from small predators to their apex predator form,” says Voris.
Khankhuuluu translates from Mongolian to mean “prince of dragons” or “the dragon prince.” The name denotes its place in the lineage of Tyrannosaurs, as Khankhuuluu was the prince before species like Tyrannosaurus rex, the Tyrant Lizard King. As the closest-known ancestor, Khankhuuluu shares many characteristics with its Tyrannosaur descendants – though it lacked some of the more defining features that Tyrannosaurs had.
