The recently discovered early tyrannosaur, Khankhuuluu mongoliensis, dubbed the "prince of dragons," is a crucial evolutionary link, living 86 million years ago and predating T. rex by 20 million years. Discovered in Mongolia, Khankhuuluu helps clarify the previously murky lineage of large tyrannosaurs, showcasing their evolution from small, predatory ancestors. The significance of this find lies in its age and its status as the closest known ancestor to T. rex, shedding light on the evolutionary history of these iconic dinosaurs.
"What makes them so important is their age. They are about 86 million years old, a good 20 million years older than T. rex. It has been a frustrating gap in the record."
Khankhuuluu, known from two partial skeletons in fossil collections at the Institute of Paleontology in Mongolia, helps fill in this gap - a transitional 86 million-year-old species that represents the closest known ancestor to the famed late tyrannosaurs.
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