Scientific name: Tyrannosaur Dinosaur - Nanotyrannus sp - Theropod Dinosaur Tooth Location: Weston Co., Wyoming (Private Land), USA Geological Formation: Lance Creek Fm Age: Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian stage (~68-66 Million Years) Size: 5,1cm REF.: #J570 DESCRIPTION: Nanotyrannus lancensis is a small, fast, agile tyrannosaur from the Late Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation (originally part of the Lance Formation), known for being small and distinctly different from T. rex, with recent studies confirming it's a separate species, not a juvenile T. rex, based on unique features like more teeth, larger hands, and distinct bone structures. Meaning "dwarf tyrant," it was a capable predator of smaller prey, coexisting with T. rex. Key Facts Name Meaning: "Dwarf tyrant" from Greek nanos (dwarf) and tyrannos (tyrant). Species Name: lancensis refers to the Lance Formation where its skull was found. Size: Around 15-18 feet long, much smaller and lighter than an adult T. rex. Habitat: Hell Creek and Lance Creek Formation (Late Cretaceous), same time and place as T. rex. Lifestyle: Fast, agile pursuit predator, likely hunting smaller dinosaurs like pachycephalosaurs. Controversy: Long debated as either a distinct species or juvenile T. rex, but recent evidence strongly supports it as its own genus. Distinguishing Features: Narrower skull, more teeth, larger hands, and different bone structures than T. rex. The Debate; Juvenile T. rex Theory: Many scientists thought smaller tyrannosaur fossils from Hell Creek and Lance Creek were young T. rex because no large Nanotyrannus fossils existed, and T. rex juveniles were rare. Separate Species Theory: Researchers found that Nanotyrannus fossils showed adult-like traits (fused bones) and unique features that T. rex never developed, making it biologically impossible to grow into a T. rex. Current Consensus: Nanotyrannus is a separate, distinct genus of small tyrannosaur, coexisting with T. rex as a unique, agile predator. Observations; This specimen is relatively large for its species. One side is very well preserved, displaying a beautiful enamel surface and well-defined carina (serrations). The other side, however, is not as well preserved, exhibiting several fractures that have been glued and stabilized. Its surface has been stabilized with Paraloid B-72 to ensure its stability and long-term preservation in a professional manner. All of our fossils come with a Certificate of Authenticity. Every week, the issued Certificates of Authenticity are updated in our database verification system on our website. If you find that your certificate has not yet been updated, please contact us and we will update it immediately. Display box included.