Artist’s impression of Zhuchengtyrannus magnus (ZT). Alongside T. rex and Tarbosaurus, ZT is one of a specialised group of gigantic theropods called tyrannosaurines.
Credit: Robert Nicholls
DUBLIN: Scientists have identified a new species of gigantic theropod dinosaur from fossil skull and jaw bones discovered in China. Comparable in size and scale to its close relative, T. rex, this new dinosaur is one of the largest theropod dinosaurs ever identified by scientists.
According to the researchers, the newly named dinosaur species Zhuchengtyrannus magnus probably measured about 11 m long, stood about 4 m tall, and weighed close to 6 tonnes. Alongside T. rex and the Asian Tarbosaurus, Zhuchengtyrannus magnus is one of a specialised group of gigantic theropods – bipedal carnivores - called tyrannosaurines.
“Zhuchengtyrannus can be distinguished from other tyrannosaurines by a combination of unique features in the skull not seen in any other theropod,” said lead author David Hone from the School of Biology and Environmental Science at University College Dublin, Ireland.
The ‘Tyrant from Zhucheng’
“With only some skull and jaw bones to work with, it is difficult to precisely gauge the overall size of this animal. But the bones we have are just a few centimetres smaller than the equivalent ones in the largest T. rex specimen. So there is no doubt that Zhuchengtyrannus was a huge tyrannosaurine,” said Hone.
“We named the new genus Zhuchengtyrannus magnus - which means the ‘Tyrant from Zhucheng’ - because the bones were found in the city of Zhucheng, in eastern China's Shandong Province.”
A key member of the international team of scientists involved in the study published in Cretaceous Research the is Xu Xing of the Beijing Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Palaeoanthropology in China. Xu has named more than 30 dinosaurs, making him the world leader in describing new dinosaur species.
