135-Million-Year-Old
Tyrannosaur Teeth Unearthed in UKLondon, 30
Dec (ONA) — A groundbreaking study by the University of Southampton has
uncovered evidence of diverse meat-eating dinosaurs in East Sussex, the United Kingdom (UK),135 million
years ago.Published in
Papers in Palaeontology, the research identified fossilized teeth from
tyrannosaurs, spinosaurs, and dromaeosaurs (Velociraptor-like theropods) in the
Bexhill-on-Sea area.This marks
the first identification of tyrannosaurs in sediments of this age and region. Led
by Dr. Chris Barker, the team employed advanced methods, including machine
learning, to analyze the teeth, which offer crucial insights into ancient
ecosystems. These mid-sized tyrannosaurs, a third the size of T. rex, likely
preyed on small dinosaurs and reptiles.This study
highlights the importance of museum collections and dedicated collectors in
expanding our understanding of prehistoric life,” said Dr. Darren Naish, a
co-author.The findings
shed light on the lesser-known Cretaceous ecosystems of mainland southern
England, complementing discoveries from the Isle of Wight and promising further
revelations from reexamined collections.

—Ends/Thuraiya/AG