As we discussed in post February 1, 2020 “Hobbes Transformation & History of the Tyrannosaurs” early members of the Tyrannosaur family existed over 100 million years before the T-Rex came on the scene in the last of the Cretaceous Period.
Four years before the discovery of Kileskus by Alexander Averianov in the Krasnoyarsk Region of Siberia (discussed in previous post February 1st), Guanlong was discovered in far western China by Xing Xu. Xing Xu of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology & Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Guanlong is a very similar small meat eater from the middle part of the Jurassic. Fortunately, this discovery contained two nearly complete skeletons vs. the fragmentary remains for Kileskus. They were found at the bottom of a pit the teenager trampled by the adult. About the same size as Kileskus that of a large dog. Guanlong meaning crown dragon referring to the mohawk like crest of bone on the top of the skull. Guanlong was lean with long skinny legs and long arms with three claws vs. T-Rex’s miniscule arms and two clawed hands. It lived at the time of much larger carnivores – Monolophosaurus over 15 feet long and Sinoraptor over 30 feet long – a cousin of Allosaurus. Guanlong was a second or third tier predator. The tiniest tyrannosaur, Dilong – greyhound size weighing around 20 lbs. also discovered by Xing Xu. These little tyrannosaurs survived environmental & climate changes that took out Allosaurus, the Sauropods and Stegosaurs around the Jurassic / Cretaceous boundary.
The T-Rexes enjoy learning about their ancestors & cousins. Marc the Triceratop & Antonio the Pterosaur are taking the class for extra credit.
In 2012 Xing Xu published an article of a new dinosaur – Yutyrannus. They had 3 skeletons for this one. Yutyrannus was large 30 feet long and carried the boney head crest and three fingered hands like Guanlong. In addition, Yutyrannus was very well preserved that details of the soft tissue were visible! Apparently, buried right after a volcanic eruption. Dense clusters of 6- inch slender filaments were all around the bones. Similar structures were found on Dilong. These are feathers, not the type that aid todays birds in flight, but simple ones like strands of hair. This established without a doubt Tyrannosaurs were among the feathered dinosaurs. They were most likely used for display or to keep warm. Yutyrannus & Sinotyrannus compared to skeletons of T-Rex bone by bone are very different. Therefore, they are thought to be evolutionary dead ends that didn’t go on to becoming T-Rex.
Timurlengia euotica named after Timur aka Tamerlane, the infamous Central Asian Warlord who ruled over Uzbekistan and surrounding lands in the 14th Century. A midsize Tyrannosaur about the size of a horse. Timurlengia was developing a larger brain with a heighten sense of smell, vision & hearing. However, still living under the claws of the Reigning Kings of the Middle Cretaceous Carcharodontosaurs.
Then at 84 Million Years Ago the Carcharodontosaurs were gone in North America & Asia. They were replaced by T-Rex & Tarbosaurus. A major evolutionary turnover had taken place. We don’t know the reason – yet! Was it environmental changes that spared the T-Rex for some reason over other dinosaurs? Did the T-Rexes larger brains and highly developed senses allow them to muscle out the Carcharodontosaurs? Perhaps future discoveries will provide these answers.
During the Late Cretaceous the Supercontinent Pangea had split and the separate continents had drifted farther apart in positions similar to today. Due to sea level rising at this time, North America was bisected by a seaway stretching from the Artic to the Gulf of Mexico. Europe was nothing more than a series of small islands. Unlike the time of early tyrannosaurs, T-Rex’s world did not permit access to the entire globe. This explains the findings of T-Rex only in North America and cousins, Tarbosaurus in Asia, Albertosaurus in Canada and Gorgosaurus in North America.
“The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World” by Steve Brusatte is a Great Resource for information on the Tyrannosaurus or Tyrannosauroidea Family. A reference for this article. A Wonderful Book for the Dinosaur Enthusiast! Check out Your local Library or Amazon to add it to Your Collection.
My First Book “Is a Metal Dinosaur the Right Pet for You?” is Now Available as an eBook on Kindle through Amazon.com!
Included are two photos of Prehistoric Pals converted to black & white line drawings for You to express Your Color Imagination! Search online for print options on Your device. Print Screen, Cropping & Printing are available on many smart phones. Your smart phone may even allow You to email Your Print Screen to Yourself allowing even more options before printing. Kindle has an app for smart phones!
I would love to see Your Color Visions for Dominic & Raphael! Use crayons, pencils, pens, or watercolors! Attach feathers, glitter whatever brings them to life for You. Send a picture of Your Colorized Imaginations to: paul@paulsprehistoricpark.com It could be in a future post!
I will keep You posted with information on paperback additions and my Next Book “The Shy Triceratops”.
“Encouraging the Appreciation of Art and Education through the Inspiration of Dinosaurs”
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
Your feedback is appreciated, comment below or email:
paul@paulsprehistoricpark.com
Thank you!