One of the recently discovered fossils reveals the small size of dinosaur hatchlings. No dinosaur movie, story, or amusement park ride is complete without the appearance of these fearsome dinosaurs. In fact, these massive prehistoric creatures may be the most famous beings due to their astonishing size, terrifying appearance, and sharp teeth.
Now, a newly discovered embryo fossil shows that small beginnings often lead to significant outcomes, as the fossils found for the first time of Tyrannosaurus embryos indicate that at least some of them were very small at birth. This presents a significant contrast to the adult dinosaur, which is estimated to weigh around 8 tons and reach heights of approximately 40 feet. Paleontologists, led by researchers from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, made this astounding discovery after examining a small fossilized jawbone and claw found in the United States and Canada. Additionally, 3D scans of these fossils revealed that they were once part of Tyrannosaurus hatchlings measuring about three feet long at hatching. In fact, this analysis also suggests that Tyrannosaurus eggs may have only been 17 inches long, despite the fact that no Tyrannosaurus egg remains have ever been found or studied previously. These results will assist paleontologists in the future in recognizing and discovering more fossilized Tyrannosaurus eggs if they are still buried underground.
According to the researchers, the discovered jawbone, which measures three centimeters long, depicts the pronounced chin of Tyrannosaurus dinosaurs, indicating that they are indeed born with these facial features. This finding was truly exciting because all previously studied Tyrannosaurus fossils were samples of either adult dinosaurs or at least juveniles. Therefore, scientists consider this discovery a game-changer in terms of our understanding of the stages of dinosaur development. The lead researcher of the study, Dr. Greg Funston from the University of Edinburgh, stated in an interview with the scientific journal GeoSciences: "These bones are the first window into the early life of Tyrannosaurus dinosaurs, allowing us to recognize their size and appearance at birth. We now know that they resemble their parents from the beginning, which is a good sign for finding and studying more fossil material in the future."
