Archive · 11 Jun 2025
New T-Rex Ancestor, 'Dragon Prince,' Discovered in Mongolia
Scientists have found a new dinosaur called Khankhuuluu in Mongolia.
This dinosaur is a relative of the T-Rex, but it was smaller.
The fossils were found long ago but were not identified correctly until recently.
Khankhuuluu lived about 86 million years ago and helps scientists understand how the T-Rex evolved.
It also shows how dinosaurs moved from Asia to North America, eventually leading to the giant T-Rex we know today.
This discovery is important because it clarifies the family history of tyrannosaurs.
A new tyrannosaur species, Khankhuuluu mongoliensis, has been identified from fossils found in Mongolia.
The fossils were misidentified for 50 years before being recognized as a new species.
Khankhuuluu mongoliensis, meaning "dragon prince of Mongolia," lived around 86 million years ago.
The dinosaur was about 13 feet long and weighed approximately three-quarters of a tonne.
The discovery clarifies the family history of tyrannosaurs and their migration from Asia to North America.
- Who
- Khankhuuluu mongoliensis, a precursor to Tyrannosaurus rex.
- What
- The discovery and identification of Khankhuuluu mongoliensis, a new tyrannosaur species.
- When
- Khankhuuluu lived approximately 86 million years ago, during the Cretaceous Period.
- Where
- Fossils were found in Mongolia.
- Why
- The discovery helps clarify the family history of tyrannosaurs and their evolutionary path.
Evolutionary Path
Previous Theories
Impact of Discovery
Evolutionary Path
The discovery of Khankhuuluu clarifies the evolutionary history of tyrannosaurs.
Previous Theories
Prior research suggested the evolutionary path of tyrannosaurs was unclear.
- Dinosaur Name
- Khankhuuluu mongoliensis
- Meaning of Name
- "Dragon Prince of Mongolia"
- Length
- Approximately 4 meters (13 feet)
- Weight
- Approximately 0.75 tonnes
- Discovery Location
- Mongolia
- Era
- Cretaceous Period
