According to a study published this week, a new dinosaur species has been found in Argentina.
About 90 million years ago, a meat-eating dinosaur called Meraxes gigas is thought to have walked the earth.
According to the research published in the journal Current Biology on Thursday, the big skull and small arms of Meraxes provide important clues about how prehistoric predator evolved.
A group of giant, predatory theropod dinosaurs are called the carcharodontosaurs. The small arms and large skulls of the T. rex are not related to the small arms and large skulls of the Meraxes.
Scientists say a fossil of a dinosaur has been discovered.
Peter Makovicky, one of the authors for Thursday's study and University of Minnesota paleontologist, told USA TODAY that researchers have realized that this is a trend for numerous bipedal, meat-eating dinosaurs.
Since the discovery of T. rex, people have wondered why an animal of that size has such small arms. Did they help? Makovicky spoke. The arms may be getting shorter as a result of some other part of the body being made more efficient. People suggest the skull because it's so large.
T. rex were so common on Earth that you could find 2 in a Washington DC-sized area.
Meet Meraxes gigas, the newest member of the carcharodontosaurid theropod radiation! Based on a well preserved skeleton, this giant carnivore was over 35 feet long and weighed around 9000 lbs. Published today in @CurrentBiology! Artwork (c) J. Gonzalez pic.twitter.com/zoqHGBLTQu
— Peter Makovicky (@PeteMakovicky) July 7, 2022
The arms of the Meraxes are 2 feet long while the skull is 4 feet long. As more predatory functions were transferred to the skull, the disparity shows an evolution in hunting.
The arms are getting shorter because of the skull being larger. The arms were not completely useless. It's possible that they had other functions, but probably in terms of hunting and feeding themselves. Many functions would have moved from the fore limbs to the bigger skulls of these animals.
In 2012 the skull of the Meraxes was found in adinosaur graveyard in northern Patagonia.
The last bones of the Meraxes were found in 2014). The international team of paleontologists prepared the bones and compared them to other species.
A 22-foot-long Gorgosaurus skeleton is going to be auctioned.
The most complete carcharodontosaurid is the Meraxes. The "Song of Ice and Fire" book series was the inspiration for the species.
The study was co- led by Juan Canale of the National University of Ro Negro.
An example of how science can reach across borders and cultures is how the discovery was made.
The new dinosaur species in Argentina resembles a T.Rex.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
