{"product_id":"j561-tyrannosaur-dinosaur-tooth-nanotyrannus-sp-late-cretaceous-lance-creek-fm-fossil-for-sale","title":"J561 - Tyrannosaur Dinosaur Tooth - Nanotyrannus sp - Late Cretaceous - Lance 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 and Lance 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 and Lance 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\u003e\u003cem\u003eNanotyrannus\u003c\/em\u003e is a separate, distinct genus of small tyrannosaur, coexisting with T. rex as a unique, agile predator. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eObservations: \u003c\/strong\u003eNicely preserved specimen, with pristine carina (serrations) and outstanding enamel. It only has one clean glued fracture. No restorations. Exquisite specimen.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jurassic Dreams","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53390243594578,"sku":null,"price":5800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1363\/8089\/files\/FotoJet_1_6101ffcb-0dad-4e7e-927e-70f1e43de10a.jpg?v=1778490222","url":"https:\/\/www.jurassic-dreams.com\/products\/j561-tyrannosaur-dinosaur-tooth-nanotyrannus-sp-late-cretaceous-lance-creek-fm-fossil-for-sale","provider":"Jurassic Dreams","version":"1.0","type":"link"}