{"product_id":"j477-tyrannosaur-dinosaur-tooth-nanotyrannus-premaxillary-tooth-cf-aublysodon-hell-creek-fm-fossil-for-sale","title":"J477 - Tyrannosaur Dinosaur Tooth - Nanotyrannus Premaxillary Tooth (cf Aublysodon) - Hell Creek Fm","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNanotyrannus lancensis\u003c\/em\u003e is a small, fast, agile tyrannosaur from the Late Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation (originally part of the Lance Formation), known for being small and distinctly different from T. rex, with recent studies confirming it's a separate species, not a juvenile T. rex, based on unique features like more teeth, larger hands, and distinct bone structures. Meaning \"dwarf tyrant,\" it was a capable predator of smaller prey, coexisting with \u003cem\u003eT. rex\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Facts\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eName Meaning:\u003c\/strong\u003e \"Dwarf tyrant\" from Greek nanos (dwarf) and tyrannos (tyrant).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e lancensis refers to the Lance Formation where its skull was found.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e Around 15-18 feet long, much smaller and lighter than an adult T. rex.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHabitat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hell Creek Formation (Late Cretaceous), same time and place as \u003cem\u003eT. rex\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLifestyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast, agile pursuit predator, likely hunting smaller dinosaurs like pachycephalosaurs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eControversy:\u003c\/strong\u003e Long debated as either a distinct species or juvenile T. rex, but recent evidence strongly supports it as its own genus.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDistinguishing Features:\u003c\/strong\u003e Narrower skull, more teeth, larger hands, and different bone structures than T. rex. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Debate \u0026amp; Resolution\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJuvenile T. rex Theory:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Many scientists thought smaller tyrannosaur fossils from Hell Creek were young T. rex because no large \u003cem\u003eNanotyrannus\u003c\/em\u003e fossils existed, and T. rex juveniles were rare.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeparate Species Theory: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eResearchers found that Nanotyrannus fossils showed adult-like traits (fused bones) and unique features that T. rex never developed, making it biologically impossible to grow into a \u003cem\u003eT. rex.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCurrent Consensus: \u003c\/strong\u003eNanotyrannus is a separate, distinct genus of small tyrannosaur, coexisting with T. rex as a unique, agile predator. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAublysodon\u003c\/em\u003e teeth from the Hell Creek Formation (typically Montana\/South Dakota, not Iowa) are generally considered to be non-serrated premaxillary teeth from juvenile or subadult \u003cem\u003eTyrannosaurus rex\u003c\/em\u003e, rather than a distinct genus. These rare, D-shaped teeth are often sold by collectors as \"Aublysodon\" or \"Nanotyrannus,\" showcasing a smooth,,,Sometimes striated appearance. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Details on Hell Creek \"Aublysodon\" Teeth:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClassification:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAublysodon\u003c\/strong\u003e is considered a nomen dubium (doubtful name). The teeth are widely recognized as juvenile \u003cem\u003eT. rex.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCharacteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e These teeth are characterized by lacking serrations (non-denticulate) on the premaxillary (front) teeth. They may show longitudinal striations, giving them a faceted appearance.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOccurrence:\u003c\/strong\u003e While Aublysodon was originally described from the older Judith River Formation, similar-looking teeth are found in the late Maastrichtian Hell Creek Formation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e They are typically small compared to adult \u003cem\u003eT. rex\u003c\/em\u003e teeth, often measuring less than 1 inch in length.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiscovery:\u003c\/strong\u003e These fossils are found in the Hell Creek formation of Montana and Dakota, often in sandy or clay layers, frequently as isolated finds. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDisplay box included.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jurassic Dreams","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52607811092818,"sku":null,"price":1600.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1363\/8089\/files\/FotoJet_3_05b02e20-a6d8-40e9-9245-03db5a880070.jpg?v=1769959620","url":"https:\/\/www.jurassic-dreams.com\/products\/j477-tyrannosaur-dinosaur-tooth-nanotyrannus-premaxillary-tooth-cf-aublysodon-hell-creek-fm-fossil-for-sale","provider":"Jurassic Dreams","version":"1.0","type":"link"}