Scientists have identified a new dinosaur species, Khankhuuluu mongoliensis, from skeletons in a Mongolian museum collection, revealing it as the closest known ancestor of all tyrannosaurs, including T. rex.
Dated at 86 million years old, the discovery marks a major shift in understanding tyrannosaur evolution.
Weighing around 750kg, Khankhuuluu represents a transitional form between small, agile Jurassic predators and the massive apex hunters of the Cretaceous.
The species’ skull features suggest early adaptations for powerful jaw strength, a defining trait of later tyrannosaurs. The findings, published in Nature, revise the tyrannosaur family tree and evolutionary timeline.
