- The large predatory dinosaur was a distant cousin of the fearsome T.Rex
When it comes to eyebrows, this dinosaur could give Cara Delevigne a run for her money.
Experts have discovered that a large predatory dinosaur that roamed Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia 165 million years ago possessed a pair of extremely impressive eyebrows.
The first remains of the fossil were discovered in 2006 in the mountainous desert regions near the city of Tashkumyr.
In the course of several excavations, paleontologists have uncovered skull bones, pelvic vertebrae, fragments of the shoulder, and front and hind legs of the dinosaur, which must have been up to nine meters long.
Analyses have now shown that although it is a new species, it belongs to the group of therapod dinosaurs and is therefore a distant cousin of the fearsome T-Rex.
Experts have discovered that a large predatory dinosaur that roamed Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia 165 million years ago had a pair of very impressive eyebrows (artist’s impression)
When it comes to eyebrows, this dinosaur could rival model Cara Delevigne (pictured)
The most striking feature of the animal, named Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus, is an unusual “eyebrow bone” that most likely contained a horn, the researchers said.
“Alpkarakush can be diagnosed by an extremely developed orbital brow,” they wrote.
The remains of a slightly smaller specimen were also found at the site.
When the bone structure was examined, it turned out that the larger specimen was an almost adult animal, i.e. at least 17 years old, while the smaller specimen was a juvenile.
The team suspects that they may have found a parent and its offspring.
Analysis of the dinosaur’s fossilized remains suggests that it must have been up to 9 meters long.
The most striking feature of the Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus is an unusual “eyebrow bone” (pictured), which most likely contained a horn, the researchers said.
The discovery of this specimen is so surprising because no large predatory dinosaurs from the Jurassic period have been found in the region between Central Europe and East Asia.
Professor Oliver Rauhut of the Bavarian Collection of Paleontology and Geology in Munich said: “This discovery closes a major gap in our knowledge of theropods of the Jurassic period.”
“It gives us important new insights into the evolution and biogeography of these animals.”
The first remains of the fossil were discovered in 2006 in the mountainous desert regions near the city of Tashkumyr.
The fossil is named after Alpkarakush, a giant bird from a mythological Kyrgyz poem that often comes to the aid of heroes in critical moments.
The species name “Kyrgyzicus” refers directly to the Kyrgyz Republic, the place of origin of the new predatory dinosaur.
Digital 3D models of the discovered bones were created and made available online so that researchers around the world can conduct follow-up studies.
The results were published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
