Overview
- Published Dec. 4 in Science, the analysis of the Nanotyrannus holotype’s hyoid indicates the animal was 15–18 years old and skeletally mature.
- The specimen is the original 1942 Montana skull housed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, which lacks limb bones typically used for aging.
- Researchers validated hyoid histology by matching its growth record to living archosaurs and to a documented Tyrannosaurus rex growth series at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
- An independent study released Oct. 30 reached the same conclusion using different bones and anatomical comparisons, reinforcing recognition of Nanotyrannus as distinct from T. rex.
- The findings imply a smaller, agile tyrannosaur about 5 meters long and roughly 700 kg coexisted with T. rex, reshaping views of predator diversity and potential juvenile–adult niche overlap in Late Cretaceous ecosystems.