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T. rex fossil with near complete skull discovered

August 24,2016

      In a major find, palaeontologists have discovered a Tyrannosaurus rex fossil, including a very complete skull, during an expedition to the Hell Creek Formation in the U.S. —— an area that is world-famous for its fossil dinosaur sites.

      The fossil, which the palaeontologists estimate to be about 20 per cent of the now-extinct animal, includes vertebrae, ribs, hips and lower jaw bones.

      The T. rex found by a team of palaeontologists with the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture and the University of Washington is nicknamed the “Tufts-Love Rex” in honour of the two volunteers who discovered it — Jason Love and Luke Tufts.

      “Having seen the ‘Tufts-Love Rex’ during its excavation, I can attest to the fact that it is definitely one of the most significant specimens yet found,” said Burke Museum research associate Jack Horner.

      “Because of its size, it is sure to yield important information about the growth and possible eating habits of these magnificent animals,” Horner noted.

      The bones’ large size and honeycomb-like structure indicated they belonged to a carnivorous dinosaur.

       Upon further excavation, the team, led by University of Washington Biology Professor Gregory Wilson, discovered the T. rex skull along with ribs, vertebrae, and parts of the jaw and pelvis.

      The skull is about four feet long, weighs about 1,134 kg in its protective plaster jacket.

      Excavation in the field revealed the right side of the skull from base to snout, including teeth.

      The palaeontologists believe it is very probable the other side of the skull is present, but will need to carefully remove the rock surrounding the fossil before they can determine its completeness.IANS

 

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Mr. Zhou

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Mr. Zhou

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