A rendering by artist Sergey Krasovkiy of Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis, a newly discovered relative of T. rex. A partial skull on view at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science was a key part of the discovery.

A team of researchers that includes New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (NMMNHS) Executive Director Dr. Anthony Fiorillo authored a new study that reshapes our understanding of how the most famous dinosaur to ever walk the earth – Tyrannosaurus rex – first arrived in North America by introducing its earliest known relative on the continent. 

The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, identifies a newly discovered subspecies of tyrannosaur known as Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis. The newly discovered predator is older and more primitive than its better-known cousin, but just as large. The study was based on a partial skull collected years ago from western New Mexico, currently on display at NMMNHS, which shows that Tyrannosaurus was in North America millions of years before paleontologists previously thought.

To learn more about this groundbreaking discovery, read our full press release or head to the Museum to see the fossil for yourself!