North Carolina State University researchers have discovered the fossil remains of a Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur that lived 68 million years ago in ancient Montana.
The T.Rex, which has been discovered now, is believed to be pregnant during the time of its death, and scientists believe that it will pave light on the evolution of egg-laying and the gender differences among dinosaurs. News report about this finding is published in LiveScience on March 16, 2016.
The fossil was discovered long back in 2005, but just now, experts came to know that the T.Rex was a mother-to-be when it took its last breath.
This new finding is expected to be a breakthrough in the field of paleontology as most of the times; experts fail to determine the exact gender of dinosaurs.
Researchers have found the medullary bone in the femur of the fossil, and it helped them to make a conclusion that the T.Rex is pregnant. Readers should understand that medullary bone is a tissue which is found only in female birds during the time of egg laying.
Mary Schweitzer from North Carolina University told that in all probabilities, they have found the medullary bone. She also added that further tests should be done, as diseases like osteoporosis can mimic structures like medullary bone among female birds. Chemical analysis of the fossil will be soon conducted to confirm that the T.Rex is pregnant.
Dr Lindsay Zanno, the co-author of the study, revealed that medullary bone is a particular tissue that is built up as easily mobilised calcium storage just before egg-laying. He also added that medullary bones will be gone entirely from the female body soon after she completes egg laying.
The discovery of medullary bone will act as a connecting channel between birds and other theropod dinosaurs which include, T.Rex. In a previous study, Sarah Werning of the University of California has found medullary bones in Allosaurus and Tenontosaurus.
