"Scientists have long puzzled over the origins of a mysterious dinosaur excavated in the 1940s: Was it a young T. rex or another type of dinosaur? At first, researchers had only a tyrannosaur skull to go by, making it hard to tell if it belonged to a child or adult. Another skull and skeleton nicknamed Jane added to the debate, but didn't settle the controversy. Now a research team said there's new evidence that resolves the case."
"Growth rings within the bones found in Montana's Hell Creek Formation told scientists the new dinosaur was an adult about half the size of a fully-fledged T. rex. From growth comparisons to other reptiles like crocodiles, they also found that the major differences between the creature's skull and an adult T. rex's - changes in bone structure, nerve patterns and sinuses - were unlikely to form from simply going through puberty."
A complete skeleton uncovered in 2006 in Montana represents an adult small tyrannosaur about half the size of a fully grown Tyrannosaurus rex. Growth rings in the bones indicate adulthood rather than juvenile status. Major skull differences in bone structure, nerve patterns, and sinuses differ from adult T. rex anatomy and are unlikely to result solely from growth. The specimen supports identification as Nanotyrannus lancensis, a T. rex relative. Some specialists remain unconvinced, suggesting the specimen could be a sister species to T. rex or that other mystery fossils such as Jane remain ambiguous.
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