Scientists discover new species of crocodile-like dinosaur

Los Angeles: Scientists have discovered a new species of tyrannosaur dinosaur. They also found that their face was covered in a scaly protective layer with a high degree of tactile sensitivity, similar to crocodiles.

Researchers, including those from University of New Mexico in the US, have identified and named the new species of the tyrannosaur clan: Daspletosaurus horneri - 'Horner's Frightful Lizard.'

They analysed the texture of the facial bones of the new species found at the banks of Montana river in the US.

Jason R Moore of University of New Mexico said, "Being a tyrannosaur, they had really small arms," said

Moore said, "They would not be able to interact with their environment with their hands the way mammals do - find food, build nests, tend to eggs and young. In order to do these things, Daspletosaurus needed to use its feet or head,".

He said, "The discovery and analysis of the tyrannosaur shows that the dinosaur had a developed face sensitivity similar to the sensitivity in our finger tips, suggesting it could use its snout for all those complex ecological interactions, similar to the way crocodiles do today."

The study also provides new information about the mode of evolution and life appearance of tyrannosaurs, specifically the face.

Researchers found evidence for a rare, nonbranching type of evolution in tyrannosaurs and that tyrannosaurs had scaly, lipless faces and a highly touch-sensitive snout.

Thomas Carr of Carthage College in the US said, "Daspletosaurus horneri was the youngest, and last, of its lineage that lived after its closest relative, D torosus, which is found in Alberta, Canada".

Carr said, "The geographic proximity of these species and their sequential occurrence suggests that they represent a single lineage where D torosus has evolved into D horneri."

The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.

(With PTI inputs)