New study shows T. rex may have had thick, scaly lips
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T. rex, to me, is the iconic American dinosaur, said Hans Sues, a paleontologist, curator and senior scientist with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in D.C.
In science, you continuously get new information and have to adjust your ideas, Sues said. Hes still in the camp that thinks T. rexes teeth werent hidden but admits some of his expert peers are building a case that could change how we perceive the prehistoric creature.
Ultimately though, Sues says the jury is still out. He told WTOP theyre looking for more fossils to give them a better clue.
The hope is that for some dinosaurs the same age as T. rex, weve found what are called dinosaur mummies, he explained.
Dinosaur mummies are found when a dinosaur has a more intact and more carefully preserved body that is buried in the earth. Discoveries of dinosaur mummies are being made more frequently, he says, particularly in areas of Asia such as Mongolia.
Finding a T. rex mummy would be the key discovery paleontologists need to bring the debate closer to the end, Sues says.
Its an interesting debate, he mused. I think the people who are most invested in this are those who do artwork depicting historical wildlife and time periods.
In the meantime, Sues hopes the next Jurassic World or Jurassic Park movie will feature the same fearsome T. rex we know and love.
Matt Kaufax
A Northern Virginia native who grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, Matt is thrilled to be back home in the D.C. metro area covering news for a station he grew up listening to. Keeping the community he calls home informed about the day's events is something he considers an honor and privilege.
Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 4:12 am