| "Alamotyrannus" Temporal range: Late Cretaceous | |
|---|---|
| |
| "Alamotyrannus brinkmani" as compared with a human | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Order: | Saurischia |
| Suborder: | Theropoda |
| Genus: | †"Alamotyrannus" Dalman & Lucas, 2013 (In Press) |
| Species: | "A. brinkmani" |
| Binomial name | |
| † "Alamotyrannus brinkmani" Dalman & Lucas, 2013 (In Press) | |
"Alamotyrannus" (meaning "Ojo Alamo tyrant") is an informal name given to an undescribed genus of tyrannosaur from the Late Cretaceous period[1] of North America. The fossils of this animal originate from the Ojo Alamo Formation in New Mexico. It possibly measured around 12 metres (40 feet) long[2] and weighed approximately 5 tonnes (5.5 short tons)[3]. It was first informally mentioned in a paper by palaeontologists Sebastian Dalman and Spencer Lucas in 2013, and later mentioned in the press.[4] It lived about 69 to 66 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous epoch.
Description[]
While some paleontologists have suggested that this animal is a new taxon, others claim that it is either a new or previously known species of Tyrannosaurus. More studies are needed to determine if "Alamotyrannus" is a distinct genus or just a synonym of Tyrannosaurus.[3]
Therefore, most palaeontologists believe "Alamotyrannus" to be extremely similar to Tyrannosaurus rex and Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis, with some believing the "Alamotyrannus" to belong to one of those species, but most seem to believe it to be more similar to Tyrannosaurus rex.
Like Tyrannosaurus, "Alamotyrannus" had extremely small arms and fingers, with a robust body and powerful crushing jaws. Its legs and tail were also quite strong as well, to help with balance, speed and agility, and its teeth must have been large[5] in order to feed on the larger dinosaurs in the area, such as possibly juvenile sauropod Alamosaurus[6].
Discovery & Naming[]
"Alamotyrannus" was informally named both in a paper and in the press by Sebastian Dalman and Spencer Lucas in 2013, based on a fragmentary specimen. The specimen was discovered in New Mexico's Ojo Alamo formation, which is also where "Alamotyrannus" gets its name, with 'Alamo' coming from the formation, and 'tyrannus' meaning tyrant.
Classification[]
"Alamotyrannus" is informally classified within the theropod subfamily Tyrannosaurinae of the Tyrannosauridae family. This is due to its robust build and close similarities to Tyrannosaurus. Its closest relative is considered to be Tyrannosaurus rex.[7]
Palaeoecology[]
As previously mentioned, "Alamotyrannus" lived with many famous dinosaurs in the Ojo Alamo formation, such as Alamosaurus. It likely fed on juvenile or younger Alamosaurus[6], as well as other smaller dinosaurs in the area.[6] Like related tyrannosaurs, "Alamotyrannus" could have fed on carrion, as evidence of this has been found with similar members of the same family and subfamily.[3]
References[]
- ↑ https://dinoanimals.com/dinosaurs/huge-dinosaurs-youve-never-heard-of/
- ↑ https://fossil.fandom.com/wiki/Alamotyrannus#:~:text=%22Alamotyrannus%22%20was%20first%20thought%20to,knows%20more%20about%20the%20vertebrae.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://prehistoric-wiki.fandom.com/wiki/Alamotyrannus
- ↑ https://www.skyemcdavid.com/blog/acm-7975
- ↑ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/facts/tyrannosaurus-rex
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 https://prehistoric.fandom.com/wiki/Alamosaurus
- ↑ https://dinoanimals.com/dinosaurdatabase/alamotyrannus-brinkmani/
Other Wikis[]
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