Old Fossil Revealed as New Dinosaur Species

Scientists have recently identified a new type of dinosaur using a fossil that sat in a museum for one hundred years. The fossil, which is part of a skull, arrived at the Natural History Museum in London back in 1924. It remained hidden in a storage drawer until researchers finally studied it closely. This creature is a member of the megaraptoran group, which is related to the famous Tyrannosaurus rex. Experts have named this new animal Invictibellatrix amberina.

Researchers used a CT scan to create a three-dimensional model of the skull fragment. By comparing this model with other known dinosaurs, they confirmed it was a unique species. This animal lived approximately 120 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period. It was quite small compared to other predators, measuring about five feet tall and up to thirteen feet long. Unlike the T. rex, which used its mouth to attack, this dinosaur likely relied on its large arms and sharp, curved claws to catch its meals.

Dr. Cassius Morrison, who led the research team, expressed surprise that the fossil stayed unnoticed for such a long time. He noted that while this dinosaur was not the largest predator of its era, it would have been a dangerous threat to humans. The team believes we would have been the perfect size for its prey. Dr. Morrison explained, "They definitely would have chased us." If humans had lived at the same time, this creature might have viewed us as a snack. In contrast, a T. rex probably would have ignored us because we were too small to be worth the effort. The team chose the name Invictibellatrix to represent strength and hope for people who face difficult challenges in their own lives.