While our newest Prehistoric Pal gets use to her surroundings, now is a good time to discuss her family’s history. The 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, 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 at the Park 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 Dinosaur. 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 King of the Middle Cretaceous – Carcharodontosaurus.
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. Plus, the exciting story of the discovery of Qianzhousaurus sinensis AKA Pinocchio Rex an early Tyrannosaur in Ganzhou, China and its near escape from fossil traffickers. A Wonderful Book for the Dinosaur Enthusiast! A reference for this article. Check it out at Your local Library. Purchase it at the Museum or Amazon.
Kileskus discovered by Alexander Averianov in the Krasnoyarsk Region of Siberia. An area that covers a million square miles – larger than Alaska or Greenland. Kileskus – the name is based on the word lizard in a local language. Seven or eight feet long – mostly tail – and about 2 feet high. The size of a large dog most likely the wolf or jackal of its time.
For 80 million years Tyrannosaurs were less than human size. Through the rein of the Allosaurus it would have been hardly noticed. Only after the Carcharodontosaurus did the Tyrannosaurs start to grow bigger, stronger reaching the top of the food chain and ruling the World for the last 20 million years of the Dinosaur Age. The name Tyrannosaurus Rex a combination of Greek & Latin meaning “Tyrant Lizard King”. Tyrannosaurus Rex was discovered in 1902 by Barnum Brown and presented to the World in 1905 by Henry Osborn, then President of the American Museum of Natural History. In the last two decades more than 20 new Tyrannosaurus have been discovered in the sea Cliffs of England, the Artic Circle & Gobi Desert. Cousins of Tyrannosaurus Rex – Albertosaurus, Gorgosaurus & Tarbosaurus have almost identical skeletons.
Stay Tuned for More Dinosaur Crafts & Fun Facts!
Here are 3 of my favorites Museums. Remember Social Distancing & Masks to keep You & Others Safe while Everyone Enjoys Their Learning Experience. Consider a Membership with the Museum. In addition to Supporting Their Valuable Work there are Benefits to You. Special Preview Events for Members Only as well as Virtual Access Exclusive for Members. For more information and access to general public eLearning check out the links below.
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County www.nhm.org under Research & Collections / Digitized Collections will allow you to browse their Collections. Check out the latest Activities on their site.
The American Natural History Museum www.amnh.org You will find eLearning for Families, Students & Educators. Explore the Museum Virtually. Check Out SciCafe: Video Talks and Meet the Icons: Stories behind the Exhibits! There are Video Series covering Behind the Scenes at the Museum with Space & Dinosaur Explainers.
Chicago’s Field Museum www.fieldmuseum.org You can talk to “Maximo the Titanosaur” online, Yes Really! Visit Sue the largest T-Rex discovered! Check Out “Brain Scoop” and the Learning Resources – many are also in Spanish.
Check Out Your Libraries eBooks. My local Library has over 900 eBooks on Dinosaurs! Here are four books for Drawing Dinosaurs that you might find at your Library. Ask your Librarian about others.
1-2-3 Draw Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Animals A step by step guide by Freddie Levin (2001)
Draw 50 Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Animals by Lee J. Ames (1977)
Draw it Dinosaurs by Patricia Walsh (2006)
I Can Draw Dinosaurs by Terry Longhurst (2003)
Stay Safe & Well.
Please Remember to Wear Masks & Social Distance as Appropriate Not everyone has been Vaccinated. And even vaccinated many Young & Old have compromised immune systems. Protect Yourself, Friends, Family & Everyone You Pass!
Thank You!
I used watercolors to make Dinosaur Designs on my N95 Masks. I couldn’t get a yes or no from 3M regarding any impact this might have to the effectiveness of the mask. Many Museums sell Dinosaur Themed Masks Check them Out!
“Encouraging the Appreciation of Art and Education through the Inspiration of Dinosaurs”
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
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