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Scientists have revealed the world’s first complete T-rex skeleton, which was buried in sediment after a deadly duel with a triceratops 67 million years ago.
Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops horridus, nicknamed the “Dueling Dinosaurs”, are kept together in what is thought to be a predator-prey encounter, where both fought to the death.
Body contours, skin imprints and wounds – including Tyrannosaurus teeth embedded in the Triceratops’ body – can still be seen 67 million years after the fierce battle.
Each of the remains has only been seen by a few dozen people since it was discovered in 2006 in Montana, United States, by professional fossil hunters.
It took years for the nonprofit Friends of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences to extract the 14-ton skeletons and arrange their purchase for an undisclosed sum.
The group donated them to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in Raleigh, North Carolina, which is expected to begin building a dedicated exhibit for them next year.
Scientists have revealed the world’s first complete T-rex skeleton (pictured) found after he fell to his death in a deadly duel with a triceratops
The Dueling Dinosaurs, which have not yet been studied, have been described as “one of the most important paleontological discoveries of our time”.
“This fossil will forever change our view of the world’s two favorite dinosaurs,” said Dr. Lindsay Zanno, chief of paleontology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Conservation is phenomenal and we intend to use every available technological innovation to reveal new insights into the biology of T. rex and Triceratops.
“We haven’t studied this specimen yet: it’s a scientific frontier.”
The T-rex includes the only 100% complete T-rex ever found, even better preserved than Sue, housed at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois.
“The Dueling Dinosaurs tyrannosaurus is a young individual, not yet fully grown,” Dr. Zanno told MailOnline. ‘In comparison Sue is a large skeletally mature T-rex individual.
‘However, our tyrannosaurus is 100% complete, preserving every bone in the body on both sides in the waist position [while] Sue is about 85% complete. ‘
The ‘dueling’ tyrannosaurus also has skin impressions – fossilized remains of skin surfaces – which are extremely rare.
“There is, as far as I know, no evidence of skin preservation on Sue,” said Dr. Zanno.
The carcasses of the dueling dinosaurs were buried in the sediments of the Montana hill where they were discovered by professional fossil hunters: a cattle rancher and two of his friends.
Pictured is an artist’s rendering of the fight against Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops horridus about 67 million years ago
Each of the 67 million year old remains are among the best ever found and have only been seen by a select few since they were discovered in 2006.
The pair – nicknamed the ‘Dueling Dinosaurs’ – are kept together in what is thought to be a predator-prey encounter, where they both fought to the death.
Due to these rare burial conditions, each bone is in its natural position and museum scientists will have access to biological data that is typically lost during the excavation and preparation processes.
A farmer, a friend of his and his cousin found the fossils in 2006 and are said to have reached an agreement with the landowners.
The skeletons are worth millions of dollars and have been the subject of a judicial battle over who owned them after their discovery in 2006.
In June 2020, a US appeals court ruled that the fossils belong to the owners of the land surface rights, not the owners of the mineral rights.
Buried in sediment in Montana, they were discovered by professional fossil hunters: a cattle rancher cowboy and two friends.
Due to these rare burial conditions, each bone is in its natural position and the Museum scientists will have access to biological data that is typically lost during the excavation and preparation processes.
Coinciding with the acquisition of fossils, the design is nearing completion for a one-of-a-kind behind-the-scenes visit experience at the Museum in downtown Raleigh
The Dueling Dinosaurs went to auction in 2013 at Bonhams in New York, but no bids reached the reserve price of $ 6 million.
During years of negotiations, the fossil would have been locked up in laboratories or warehouses.
But thanks to donors, the nonprofit Friends of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has now purchased them on behalf of the museum.
The museum, in downtown Raleigh, said the design is nearing completion for “a unique behind-the-scenes visitor experience in the world.”
“The museum is thrilled to have the unique opportunity to host and research one of the most important paleontological discoveries of our time,” said Dr. Eric Dorfman, museum director and CEO.
“Not only are we able to uncover unknown details of the anatomy and behavior of these animals, but our new dedicated facility and educational programs will allow us to interact with the public locally, throughout North Carolina and throughout. the world”.
Incredibly, the contours of their body, skin imprints and wounds – including tyrannosaurus teeth stuck in the triceratops’ body – can still be seen.
The fossils were acquired by the non-profit organization Friends of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences exclusively through private funds and will be donated to the museum’s vertebrate paleontology collection.
In a court case on the ownership of fossils and others worth millions of dollars, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on June 17, 2020 that they belong to the owners of the surface estate
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