tiny T. Rex!

[mckitterick]

Paleontologists have identified a 125-million-year-old T. Rex relative. A dude digging in northern China discovered it and turned it over to science when he realized it was something important. It's only nine feet long but is built just like its descendant:

Click the image to see the NPR story.

This throws scientists for a loop, because the prevailing theory is that the big T. Rex's huge head, short arms, long legs, and other features evolved over time as it grew bigger. But this little guy has those features, too. Huh!

"Raptor Rex" (as it's being called) is truly tiny - about the weight of a human, only longer because of the tail. The T. Rex we all know and love was 100 times as massive.

Welcome, Raptor Rex!

Chris

Comments

[tessagratton.livejournal.com]

WOO! That's so cute!

...in a deadly kind of way.

[chernobylred.livejournal.com]

Cute and even more terrifying than a full-size T. Rex, IMO.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Totally. This little guy can look you in the eye... and fit through doorways.

[chernobylred.livejournal.com]

Great. I need my axe back now, thank you.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I predict that once these guys start showing up in dino movies and hit the toy-store shelves, kids will forget all about the raptors we fell in love with when Jurassic Park was on the big screen.

[tessagratton.livejournal.com]

But...but...but the CLAW! The awesome CLAW! And brainpower!

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Those things are true, true. But the JP raptors wouldn't have such an easy time against this maneuverable little beast!

[tessagratton.livejournal.com]

Unless they were really hunting as a pack. 8 to 1 is still our raptors for the win! :D

[roya-spirit.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's just a baby T. Rex? :)

Awwwwww.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

They checked its bone-growth marks and estimate it at between 5-7 years old for a dude who is old at 10. T.Rex is fully grown at 10 and old at 20.

[roya-spirit.livejournal.com]

So it's a teenage T Rex!

Even more dangerous, LOL.

[stuology.livejournal.com]

A dude digging in northern China discovered it and turned it over to science when he realized it was something important

That's not the story I heard about it exactly. Some dude found it while digging, smuggled it out of China and sold it on the black market. Someone who bought it in the US and realized it was something important and turned over to scientists in the US. The US plans on eventually turning back over to China.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Ha! So the paleontologist was being nice in how he presented it. Of course!

[arian1.livejournal.com]

So instead of OM NOM NOM NOM it's om nom nom nom?

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Pretty much!

wowee!!

[siro-gravity.livejournal.com]

so cute!

and so interesting.

[hlmt.livejournal.com]

Those guys just don't look right like that. I think they sat on their tails, and balanced like kangaroos. Kangaroos have tiny hands too... =)

Just a random thought at 3am. Heh.