This ancestor of T. rex came to North America from Asia: A new study reveals how it made the journey

A new study, led by University College London researchers and published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, suggests that the ancestors of the Tyrannosaurus rex migrated from Asia to North America around 70 million years ago. Lead researcher and doctoral student of Paleontology, Cassius Morrison, explains how they made the journey and the evidence for it.

How the T. rex ancestors traveled from North America to Asia

Cassius explains that the T. rex precursors - tyrannosaurids - likely crossed a land bridge across the Bering Strait between modern-day Siberia and Alaska. Due to how few tyrannosaurids there were compared to the other herbivorous dinosaurs, there are fewer fossil records and gaps in evolutionary relationships.

So, the research team used mathematical models and knowledge of the climate and environmental conditions to determine that the T. rex rapidly evolved in size during a cooling global climate. Morrison also noted that there may still be undiscovered fossils in Asia.

The rapid growth of the T. rex ancestors likely came after the extinction of other giant predators, the carcharodontosaurids, making the tyrannosaurs the apex predators. According to the study, the T. rex could have weighed as much as 9 metric tons - “about the same as a very large African elephant or a light tank”, by the time dinosaurs went extinct.

Related stories

Retail

Goodbye to North America’s oldest company: 355-year-old legendary business declares bankruptcy

Business

Trump tariffs drive up Ford car prices

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.