Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The debate about Nanotyrannus lancensis is one of the most fascinating discussions in palaeontology. Did T. rex coexist with a smaller dwarf tyrannosaur in Cretaceous North America? Or are all these fossils actually just juvenile T. rex? Let's dive into the controversy and look at all the evidence! Thank you to @JurassicWorldEvolution for sponsoring this video!
🦖 Jurassic World Evolution 3 is out on October 21st and available for pre-order here: https://fron.dev/bengthomas-jwe3
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Sources:
science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aax6250
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2004.2829
science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1125721
peerj.com/articles/9192
web.archive.org/web/20190818103407/https://zenodo.org/record/1037529/files/source.pdf
tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02724634.1999.10011161
zenodo.org/records/3483138
pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/files/23714255/23714179._AAM._BrusatteetalNanotyrannusResponseMSRevision.pdf
nature.com/articles/nature02699
science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1193304
tyrannosauroideacentral.blogspot.com/2013/09/nanotyrannus-isnt-real-really.html
doi.org/10.2307/3889334
zenodo.org/records/3942903
https://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app48/app48-191.pdf
researchgate.net/publication/289687970_The_case_for_Nanotyrannus
geokniga.org/bookfiles/geokniga-tyrannosaurid-paleobiology.pdf
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-abstract/142/4/479/2632290?redirectedFrom=fulltext
tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02724634.2011.557116
pbs.twimg.com/media/DWwxr4XXUAAgUDV.jpg:large
web.archive.org/web/20201117124307/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/11/dueling-dinosaurs-fossil-finally-set-to-reveal-secrets
nature.com/articles/srep19828
sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667115301415?via%3Dihub
sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667116300192?via%3Dihub
web.archive.org/web/20201117124307/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/11/dueling-dinosaurs-fossil-finally-set-to-reveal-secrets
accpaleo.wordpress.com/2018/03/11/nanotyrannus-up-hell-creek-without-a-paddle
science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aax6250
peerj.com/articles/9192
mdpi.com/2813-6284/2/1/1
nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08964-6
maxs-blogo-saurus.com/2024/01/04/the-pipe-dream-of-nanotyrannus-reaches-new-heights-comments-on-longrich-saitta-2024
https://x.com/TomHoltzPaleo/status/1742561976306254095
peerj.com/articles/6573
researchgate.net/publication/250083005_Face_biting_on_a_juvenile_tyrannosaurid_and_behavioral_implications
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2021.1965137
0:00 - Intro
2:53 - Nanotyrannus is named (1988)
5:43 - The Nanotyrannus Wars officially begin (1990s)
9:36 - Jane is discovered - another Nanotyrannus specimen? (2002)
10:43 - The Gorgosaurus growth study is disputed (2003)
12:38 - A growth series for T. rex is created - and Nanotyrannus is disputed again (2004)
13:23 - A tyrannosaur conference is held and Jane is used to support Nanotyrannus (2005)
16:15 - A baby Tarbosaurus is found and is used to support Nanotyrannus (2011)
17:34 - The Dueling Dinosaurs
20:11 - Another round of skirmishes in the Nanotyrannus War (2016)
22:21 - More studies cast doubt on Nanotyrannus (2020)
26:09 - A new study supports Nanotyrannus (2024)
29:36 - A revision of tyrannosaur evolution adds some comments to the debate (2025)
30:35 - What would it mean if Nanotyrannus is valid? And what if it's not?
35:57 - Final thoughts on the controversy
The debate about Nanotyrannus lancensis is one of the most fascinating discussions in palaeontology. Did T. rex coexist with a smaller dwarf tyrannosaur in Cretaceous North America? Or are all these fossils actually just juvenile T. rex? Let's dive into the controversy and look at all the evidence! Thank you to @JurassicWorldEvolution for sponsoring this video!
🦖 Jurassic World Evolution 3 is out on October 21st and available for pre-order here: https://fron.dev/bengthomas-jwe3
#JurassicWorldEvolution3 #ad
Become a Channel Member or support us on Patreon for behind-the-scenes, bloopers, extra adventures and more!
Become a Member: youtube.com/channel/UCDSzwZqgtJEnUzacq3ddoOQ/join
Join our Patreon: patreon.com/7daysofscience
Join our Discord server: discord.gg/jTsGYtRBHZ
Follow us on Instagram: bit.ly/1PIEagv
Follow us on TikTok: tiktok.com/@bengthomas
Music by Geographer
Subscribe to explore the wonderful life around you!
Social Media:
â–ºInstagram: bit.ly/1PIEagv
â–ºTikTok: tiktok.com/@bengthomas
â–ºTwitter: twitter.com/BenGThomas42
â–ºSubreddit: reddit.com/r/BenGThomas
Sources:
science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aax6250
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2004.2829
science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1125721
peerj.com/articles/9192
web.archive.org/web/20190818103407/https://zenodo.org/record/1037529/files/source.pdf
tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02724634.1999.10011161
zenodo.org/records/3483138
pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/files/23714255/23714179._AAM._BrusatteetalNanotyrannusResponseMSRevision.pdf
nature.com/articles/nature02699
science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1193304
tyrannosauroideacentral.blogspot.com/2013/09/nanotyrannus-isnt-real-really.html
doi.org/10.2307/3889334
zenodo.org/records/3942903
https://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app48/app48-191.pdf
researchgate.net/publication/289687970_The_case_for_Nanotyrannus
geokniga.org/bookfiles/geokniga-tyrannosaurid-paleobiology.pdf
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-abstract/142/4/479/2632290?redirectedFrom=fulltext
tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02724634.2011.557116
pbs.twimg.com/media/DWwxr4XXUAAgUDV.jpg:large
web.archive.org/web/20201117124307/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/11/dueling-dinosaurs-fossil-finally-set-to-reveal-secrets
nature.com/articles/srep19828
sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667115301415?via%3Dihub
sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667116300192?via%3Dihub
web.archive.org/web/20201117124307/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/11/dueling-dinosaurs-fossil-finally-set-to-reveal-secrets
accpaleo.wordpress.com/2018/03/11/nanotyrannus-up-hell-creek-without-a-paddle
science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aax6250
peerj.com/articles/9192
mdpi.com/2813-6284/2/1/1
nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08964-6
maxs-blogo-saurus.com/2024/01/04/the-pipe-dream-of-nanotyrannus-reaches-new-heights-comments-on-longrich-saitta-2024
https://x.com/TomHoltzPaleo/status/1742561976306254095
peerj.com/articles/6573
researchgate.net/publication/250083005_Face_biting_on_a_juvenile_tyrannosaurid_and_behavioral_implications
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2021.1965137
0:00 - Intro
2:53 - Nanotyrannus is named (1988)
5:43 - The Nanotyrannus Wars officially begin (1990s)
9:36 - Jane is discovered - another Nanotyrannus specimen? (2002)
10:43 - The Gorgosaurus growth study is disputed (2003)
12:38 - A growth series for T. rex is created - and Nanotyrannus is disputed again (2004)
13:23 - A tyrannosaur conference is held and Jane is used to support Nanotyrannus (2005)
16:15 - A baby Tarbosaurus is found and is used to support Nanotyrannus (2011)
17:34 - The Dueling Dinosaurs
20:11 - Another round of skirmishes in the Nanotyrannus War (2016)
22:21 - More studies cast doubt on Nanotyrannus (2020)
26:09 - A new study supports Nanotyrannus (2024)
29:36 - A revision of tyrannosaur evolution adds some comments to the debate (2025)
30:35 - What would it mean if Nanotyrannus is valid? And what if it's not?
35:57 - Final thoughts on the controversy
