Tyrannosaurs head ahead

2004/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Eboluzioa

Analyzing some fossils of the ancestors of Tyrannosaurus, a group of researchers from Beijing has pointed out that the mind developed before the body itself in the evolution towards tyrannosaurus formation.

To reach this conclusion, some fossils found in the Chinese region of Liaoning have been analyzed. These fossils seem to have a skull similar to tyrannosaurs. The body, however, cannot be compared to the powerful Tyrannosaurus rex, with only 1.6 m in length and longer arms than T. rex. Therefore, the ancestors of tyrannosaurs first developed the head and then the body.

This distant ancestor of fossilized tyrannosaurs is known as Dilong paradoxus. And fossils have come so well to us that you can see protolums covering the body.