New Mexico
New Species of Giant Tyrannosaur Discovered in New Mexico | Sci.News
The discovery of Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis, a sister species of the famous Tyrannosaurus rex, suggests that tyrannosaurid dinosaurs originated on Laramidia, an island continent that existed between 100 and 66 million years ago and stretched from modern-day Alaska to Mexico.
Life reconstruction of Tyrannosaurus mcraeen. Image credit: Sergey Krasovskiy.
“Tyrannosaurid dinosaurs were the dominant predators in North America and Asia during the Late Cretaceous epoch,” said Dr. Sebastian Dalman from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science and his colleagues.
“Evolving from small-bodied ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous, they became apex predators in the latest Cretaceous, and finally saw the appearance of T. rex.”
“T. rex, characterized by a robust skeleton and powerful, bone-crushing jaws, was the dominant carnivore in the Late Maastrichtian of western North America.”
“Growing to 12 m long and 10 tons in weight, T. rex was the largest terrestrial predator of its time, and perhaps of all time.”
“Where and when Tyrannosaurini (T. rex and kin) originated remains unclear. Competing hypotheses place their origins in Asia, or western North America (Laramidia).”
The newly-identified species, Tyrannosaurus mcraeen, lived in what is now the United States between 71 and 73 million years ago, or between 5 and 7 million years before T. rex.
The dinosaur’s fossilized partial skull was found in the Hall Lake Formation of New Mexico.
Although the specimen was initially assigned to T. rex and was comparable in size to those of T. rex, the paleontologists propose that it belongs to a new species due to the presence of multiple subtle differences in the shape of, and joins between, the skull bones of the specimen and T. rex.
An analysis of the relationships between Tyrannosaurus mcraeen and other theropod dinosaur species indicates that Tyrannosaurus mcraeen may have been a sister species to T. rex, making it the closest known relative of T. rex.
The authors suggest that Tyrannosaurini may have originated in southern Laramidia, an island continent that existed between 100 and 66 million years ago and stretched from modern-day Alaska to Mexico.
Additionally, they propose that Tyrannosaurini may have evolved a giant body size by approximately 72 million years ago, alongside other giant dinosaurs from southern Laramidia such as ceratopsians, hadrosaurs, and titanosaurs.
They speculate that the evolution of giant tyrannosaurins may have been driven by the giant body sizes of herbivores that they preyed on in southern Laramidia.
“Evolution of giant tyrannosaurs in southern North America, alongside giant ceratopsians, hadrosaurs, and titanosaurs suggests large-bodied dinosaurs evolved at low latitudes in North America,” they said.
The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
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S.G. Dalman et al. 2023. A giant tyrannosaur from the Campanian–Maastrichtian of southern North America and the evolution of tyrannosaurid gigantism. Sci Rep 13, 22124; doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-47011-0
New Mexico
Record heat, drought prompts early statewide fire restrictions – New Mexico Political Report
Hot dry summer calls for fire caution:
Those whose outdoor plans include fires will need to review updated rules to stay in compliance with state law. The New Mexico Forestry Division is enacting statewide fire restrictions in an effort to reduce the risk of wildfire starts.
Those whose outdoor plans include fires will need to review updated rules to stay in compliance with state law. The New Mexico Forestry Division is enacting statewide fire restrictions in an effort to reduce the risk of wildfire starts.
The new restrictions taking effect today, April 6, apply to all “non-federal, non-Tribal and non-municipal lands in New Mexico”:
Prohibited:
- Flaring of gas related to oil and gas production
- Smoking
- Fireworks
- Campfires
- Prescribed, open, agricultural and/or debris burning
The agency cited unseasonably hot weather and dry fuel conditions in its announcement Monday morning. Erin Taylor, acting secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department, said nine of 10 wildfires in the state are caused by humans, and therefore can be prevented.
“Fire restrictions are about individual actions that protect our communities as a whole,” Taylor said in a news release. “We’re asking that every resident and every visitor take extra precautions during a particularly risky wildfire season.”
The National Weather Service’s seasonal outlook shows persistent drought for most of New Mexico through June. The release states that the annual monsoon season is expected to arrive on time in July, potentially bringing above-average precipitation.
These restrictions will remain in place until rescinded. Exceptions are allowed for certain prohibited actions in specific cases or when specific conditions are met, the release states, and the state forester may allow additional exceptions upon receiving a written request.
“If monsoon rains are productive, the state could see these restrictions lifted,” the release states. “However, high temperatures are predicted to persist, and high fuel loads will continue to pose a risk across the state.”
Related
New Mexico leaders are pushing colleges to keep tuition flat, saying strong state funding should mean lower costs for students and families.New Mexico offers tuition-free college through the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, but hikes can still hurt graduate students, out-of-state students and some student-athletes.Higher Education Department Cabinet Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez said the University of New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands University and Eastern New Mexico University have so far kept tuition unchanged.Rodriguez said keeping tuition low is important not only for students currently covered by scholarships, but also for protecting the long-term promise of tuition-free college in New Mexico. She said if state revenues decline in the future, scholarship funding could face pressure.She also said community colleges have generally seen somewhat higher tuition increases than four-year institutions.According to the Higher Education Department, statewide enrollment has increased for four consecutive years and is up about 13.4% since 2022. Freshman enrollment is up 18.2% over the same period.Rodriguez said affordability is helping attract students and encouraging them to remain in New Mexico after graduation. “Nationally, tuition has increased astronomically, and that has to do with inflation, the increased cost of construction, and just– but here in New Mexico, we are seeing the lowest tuition increases that we have seen since the implementation of the lottery scholarship in 1996,” Rodriguez said.She also said New Mexico now ranks 20th in the nation for higher education, up from 50th seven years ago.
New Mexico leaders are pushing colleges to keep tuition flat, saying strong state funding should mean lower costs for students and families.
New Mexico offers tuition-free college through the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, but hikes can still hurt graduate students, out-of-state students and some student-athletes.
Higher Education Department Cabinet Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez said the University of New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands University and Eastern New Mexico University have so far kept tuition unchanged.
Rodriguez said keeping tuition low is important not only for students currently covered by scholarships, but also for protecting the long-term promise of tuition-free college in New Mexico. She said if state revenues decline in the future, scholarship funding could face pressure.
She also said community colleges have generally seen somewhat higher tuition increases than four-year institutions.
According to the Higher Education Department, statewide enrollment has increased for four consecutive years and is up about 13.4% since 2022. Freshman enrollment is up 18.2% over the same period.
Rodriguez said affordability is helping attract students and encouraging them to remain in New Mexico after graduation.
“Nationally, tuition has increased astronomically, and that has to do with inflation, the increased cost of construction, and just– but here in New Mexico, we are seeing the lowest tuition increases that we have seen since the implementation of the lottery scholarship in 1996,” Rodriguez said.
She also said New Mexico now ranks 20th in the nation for higher education, up from 50th seven years ago.
EDGEWOOD, N.M. (KRQE) – The New Mexico Wildlife Federation gave people the opportunity to learn some new skills. On Saturday, Legacy Ranch Shooting Range hosted the Outdoor Festival and Skills Competition.
Guests got to experience live demonstrations and presentations on fly fishing, outdoor cooking, and hunting tips. The family-friendly event taught people the importance of the state’s wildlife federation.
“Our priority is maintaining the robust populations of wildlife for all New Mexicans to enjoy. The hunting and fishing traditions that exist in New Mexico fund conservation in this state, and provide the necessary means for our state wildlife agency to manage wildlife, so that it’ll exist for generations to come,” said Jesse Deubel, executive director of New Mexico Wildlife Federation.
The event also had live music, a handful of vendors, and competitive events. This was the first year that the Wildlife Federation put on this event, and organizers say that the event will be back in the future.
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