Nanotyrannus
Nanotyrannus (meaning "dwarf tyrant") is a controversial genus of tyrannosaurid dinosaur. It has long been argued that Nanotyrannus is nothing more than a juvenile of Tyrannosaurus or a similar genus.[1] The problem is that the very few skeletons found are all only fragmental.
| Nanotyrannus | |
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| Holotype skull | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Family: | Tyrannosauridae |
| Subfamily: | Tyrannosaurinae |
| Genus: | Nanotyrannus Bakker, Currie & Williams, 1988 |
| Species: | N. lancensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Nanotyrannus lancensis Gilmore, 1946
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| Synonyms | |
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Tyrannosaurus Rex (?) Genus synonymy
Species synonymy
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Only two or three specimens are known. They are from the end of the Upper Cretaceous, 68 million years ago.
Some people/authorities think that juvenile T- Rex specimens had a different proportion of features like arms, which might have caused some confusion.
The first alleged specimen was found in Montana in 1942. It was thought to have been a Gorgosaurus, but it was reclassified in 1988. It was a bit smaller than a Gorgosaurus. Research has found that the Tyrannosaurids have grown to be robust and giant. Nanotyrannus has a similar body shape to a young Tyrannosaur. A fossil of a young T- Rex references those of Nanotyrannus.
Additionally, calculations based on this Tyrannosaur’s sleek, fast, build, having projected it to be one of the fastest Dinosaurs, reaching top speeds in excess of 50 miles/hour. It would also have the capacity to run for longer based on the assumption that it has a bird-based respiratory tract, allowing it to breathe in and out at the same time, always supplying the lungs with oxygenated air.
Nanotyrannus Media
Type specimen (AMNH 3982) of Manospondylus gigas
Outdated skeletal restoration by William D. Matthew from 1905, published alongside Osborn's description paper
Dynamosaurus imperiosus holotype (NHMUK PV R8020, previously AMNH 5886) on display at the Natural History Museum, London
"Scotty", the largest known specimen, exhibited in Japan
The specimens "Sue", AMNH 5027, "Stan", and "Jane", to scale with a human.
Probable footprint from New Mexico
Size (in blue) compared to select giant theropods and a human
Skull of specimen AMNH 5027 with labelled diagrams in dorsal, lateral, anterior, posterior, and medial (lower jaw) views
Right forelimb of specimen "Sue"
References
- ↑ Currie P.J; Hurum, J.H; Sabath K. 2003. Skull structure and evolution in tyrannosaurid dinosaurs. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 48 (2): 227–234.