Scientists have dug up the bones of what they believe to be a previously-undiscovered relative of the Tyrannosaurus rex.
The discovery — of the creature’s neck, back and tail bones — was made on England’s Isle of Wight, according to paleontologists with the University of Southhampton. Called the Vectaerovenator inopinatus, the species is unique in that it had large air sacs in its body, similar to modern-day birds, researchers say. “We were struck by just how hollow this animal was — it’s riddled with air spaces,” says researcher Chris Barker. “Parts of its skeleton must have been rather delicate.”
Paleontologists in Britain say four bones found in 2019 on the Isle of Wight are likely to be from a new species of dinosaur related to the Tyrannosaurus rex. https://t.co/w87jwV2cJ5 pic.twitter.com/D9EiXYAsaa
— CNN (@CNN) August 13, 2020
Despite its fragile skeleton, the carnivore — which lived some 115 million years ago — was likely pretty menacing, growing to about 13 feet long, Barker says. Like its T-Rex cousin, the Vectaerovenator inopinatus walked around on two legs, Barker says.
