A newly identified dinosaur fossil has become quite a star in the news this month. If it were a new variety of ceratopsian (the group that includes Triceratops) or Hadrosaurid (including duck-billed dinosaurs) from the exact same type of find, or even a more significant find, would barely get any attention. But members of the Tyrannosaur group tend to get special attention because of the ominous reputation of the king Tyrannosaur – Tyrannosaurus rex.
Pieces of the skull from a specimen were accidentally discovered in southern Alberta, Canada by Jon and Sandra De Groot in 2010. Like many fossil finds, this dinosaur wasn’t very complete – just a few pieces of bone from the jaw and skull, but definitely enough to study and learn something from. Even very small fossils can hold valuable clues.
From these pieces, the team of researchers was able to determine that this dinosaur was a little different from other previously identified similar Tyrannosaurs. It is most similar to Daspletosaurus, which looked a lot like T. rex but was slightly smaller (26-33 feet long, compared with 40-foot-long T. rex). The research team named the “new” Tyrannosaur genus and species Thanatotheristes degrootorum. The first part points to the reputation of T. rex with it’s Greek meaning, “Reaper of Death”. The second part obviously honors the family who discovered the fossil.
Common questions about this recent find:
Did this dinosaur have feathers? – Only pieces of the skull were discovered. Sensational discoveries of theoretical feathers on dinosaurs are usually documented in other bones, like limbs, rather than the skull. The most likely reason why some depict this “new” dinosaur with feathers is because of its similarities to T. rex. Even if you believe that some dinosaurs had feathers, T. rex is unlikely because fossilized T. rex skin impressions have been discovered, clearly showing scales, not feathers.
Was this dinosaur really as scary as the name makes it sound? – While we can’t observe a live one, it’s similarity to T. rex probably means it behaved and ate similarly. The jaw of Thanatotheristes has a four-inch-long scar on it, which seems to indicate it got into fights. Dinosaurs weren’t always carnivorous though – read this article to learn more about the true history of dinosaurs.
Is it really a NEW kind of dinosaur? – It shows some clear differences from other previously named tyrannosaurs, so it does seem unique. However, there’s still a lot we don’t know about it. Two dinosaurs of the same kind have often been given different names in the past because of a lack of knowledge about male vs. female or juvenile vs. adult of a species. From my limited knowledge at this time, I think it’s very possible that Thanatotheristes and Daspletosaurus may just be male and female of the same type of dinosaur. Until we know more about it, it’s best to keep this dinosaur in its own classification.
References
Tyrannosaurus species named ‘Reaper of Death’ found in Canada. February 11, 2020. BBC News, Science & Environment. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51457790
Voris, J.; Therrien, F.; Zelenitsky, D.; Brown, C. A new tyrannosaurine (Theropoda:Tyrannosauridae) from the Campanian Foremost Formation of Alberta, Canada, provides insight into the evolution and biogeography of tyrannosaurids. Cretaceous Research Journal, Vol. 110. June 2020. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667119303611
Greshko, M. and Wei-Haas, M. ‘Reaper of Death’ tyrannosaur discovered in Canada: The scar-faced dinosaur illuminates how T. rex and its relatives became top predators. February 10, 2020. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/02/new-reaper-of-death-tyrannosaur-discovered-canada/
