How Is This T-Rex Three Species in One? It’s Pretty Remarkable

A new study led by the dino consultant on ‘Jurassic Park’ may rule out previous explanations for skeletal differences.

Transcript

00:00One of the most fearsome predators to walk the Earth, Tyrannosaurus rex, needs no introduction.

00:10But on closer examination of the bones, researchers now believe the iconic dino is actually three different species.

00:18The theory may explain variations across femur bones in specimens that have been found,

00:23which scientists previously chalked up to sex or age differences.

00:27A team of paleontologists led by Gregory Poole, the dinosaur specialist on Jurassic Park,

00:33compared femur bones in 24 Tyrannosaurus skeletons found in North America.

00:38Based on the degree of robustness or relative strength of the bone,

00:42there seemed to be no connection to specimen size, age, or gender.

00:47Furthermore, the distribution of robust and gracile bones across three geological layers of sediment

00:52suggests that as time passed, Tyrannosaurus diverged into three distinct species.

00:59As Poole writes,

01:00Based on the findings published in Evolutionary Biology,

01:14the team has nominated two new potential species,

01:16T. Imperator, otherwise known as Tyrant Lizard Emperor,

01:21and T. Regina, Tyrant Lizard Queen.