New Insights on Dueling Dinosaurs Fossil

On Thursday, researchers announced that two dinosaur fossils, previously believed to show a juvenile tyrannosaurus battling a triceratops, actually represent a different species often mistaken for the famed carnivore.

The fossils, known as “dueling dinosaurs,” were first discovered in Montana back in 2006. Initial interpretations suggested a young Tyrannosaurus rex was clashing with a triceratops, but the findings gathered dust for years.

Once the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences acquired the fossils in 2020, scientists began detailed examinations.

After five years of thorough investigation, they concluded that what was thought to be a teenage tyrannosaurus is actually an adult Nanotyrannus lansensis, a smaller species often confused with its mightier counterpart.

Dr. Lindsay Zanno, a co-author of the study and the director of paleontology at North Carolina State University, remarked, “Our specimen is a fully grown Nanotyrannus weighing only 1,500 pounds after 20 years of growth.”

Interestingly, the structure of Nanotyrannus—characterized by numerous teeth, larger hands, a shorter tail, and distinct cranial features—contradicts the idea that this skeleton belonged to a young Tyrannosaurus, according to Zanno.

The initial identification of Nanotyrannus as a distinct species dates back to 1946, but the name was actually based on a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex skull.

In a way, these two dinosaurs are like distant relatives that look similar but function quite differently. While Nanotyrannus showcased long legs and sturdy arms, the Tyrannosaurus is famously recognized for its imposing size, albeit with narrower arms.

Nanotyrannus, for instance, only reached about 18 feet in length, compared to the impressive 42 feet of a Tyrannosaurus.

Full research findings were published Thursday in Nature magazine, where the team not only clarified the identity of the dueling dinosaurs but also reevaluated another dinosaur skull found in 2001, which had also been misidentified as a young tyrannosaurus.

The skull, nicknamed Jane, is tied to the newly recognized species Nanotyrannus, and researchers continue to rectify decades of misclassifications.

Zanno reflects, “For many years, paleontologists have inadvertently used Nanotyrannus fossils as models for juvenile tyrannosaurs to study the biology of these iconic dinosaurs. It’s time to rethink those studies.”

Even now, the “Dueling Dinosaurs” fossils spark more questions than answers, particularly regarding the circumstances of their demise and the preservation of their battle poses.