Paleontologists say the discovery of a giant tiny-armed meat-eater similar to the famous T. rex in Northern Patagonia made the news.
This new species of theropod dinosaur is Meraxes Gigas or M. gigas, whose small arms developed independently, despite not being a tyrannosaurid.
New Dinosaur Species With Tiny Arms
Findings were published by the journal Current Biology on July 7, stating that the small arms of the M. gigas and the T. rex are not useless but used for mating and movement support, reported Phys Org.
According to Juan Canale, leader of the project at Ernesto Bachmann Paleontological Museum in Neuquén, Argentina, the fossil they found has complete arms and legs that allowed them to understand how Carcharodontosaurids evolved, noted National Geographic.
The authors of the study explained the short arm of the M. gigas is not from any tyrannosaurid because they are separate. It died out nearly 20 million years before the rise of tyrannosaurs, and they are distant on the evolutionary tree with no relation at all.
Canale thinks minute arms are not the butt of jokes for this giant tiny-armed meat-eater, but it has a specific purpose for survival, which looks the same but is very different.
Looking at the skeleton of the carnivore's arms especially brings attention to large muscular insertions and developed pectoral girdles, evidence of strong-arm muscles. It means it had a function because it was useless to the animal, but how it was precisely used is unknown.
Previous research verified that the two similar theropods with large heads would have small arms due to evolution. These limbs were not for hunting because the large head and teeth did the job of slaying and ripping up prey like in the T. rex.
Canale still thinks that some unknown activities led to small arms and how the gigas theropod lived.
Inputs About the M. Gigas Fossil
It was found in Northern Patagonia in Argentina when it died at 45 years old, and more than 30 feet long, as heavy as four tons, with a big family to boot, citing SciTech Daily.
This species was successful and had diversity in the members of the species before dying out. One conclusion for the tiny arms is for mating with females, and getting up from the ground as well, added New Scientist.
Examination of its skull reveals such characteristics as crests and furrows, with other features like bumps and hornets. Everything about the dinosaur evolved because these features are theorized to arise as the animal aged. As adults and having these matured characteristics is are ornamental like birds and used to attract females with such an appearance.
Canale assumes that looks are crucial to being sexually attractive to mates, but it is unknown how it works and its connection to behavior.
Furthermore, he remarked that the fossil of M. gigas is preserved and intact. Also, there might be more to the fossils found to get more clues.
On the day they prospected for dinosaur remains, it was there and intact when they found them. It was the best point of his career, started Canale.
There is a lot more to this giant tiny-armed meat-eater which is like a T. rex but not really; that was found in Northern Patagonia where giant sauropods roamed.
Related Article : Paleontologists Discover Largest Carnivorous Dinosaur That Existed During the Cretaceous in Europe
