New "Nanotyrannus"

["Thomas R. Holtz, Jr." <tholtz@geol.umd.edu>]

With regards to the new Burpee Museum "Nanotyrannus":

It is *reported* to have fused neurocentral sutures.  However, as the
reports of the fused cranial sutures of the type of Nanotyrannus are (shall
we say) exaggerated, I will wait until the specimen is prepared before
rending any professional judgement.

Same goes for the U Chicago specimen that has been mentioned briefly.  I am
not at all adverse to the idea of a second, smaller tyrannosaurine in the
Hell Creek: I am simply not convinced that any of the specimens claimed so
far to be one are anything other than young T. rex.

                Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
                Vertebrate Paleontologist
Department of Geology           Director, Earth, Life & Time Program
University of Maryland          College Park Scholars
                College Park, MD  20742
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/tholtz.htm
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/eltsite
Phone:  301-405-4084    Email:  tholtz@geol.umd.edu
Fax (Geol):  301-314-9661       Fax (CPS-ELT): 301-405-0796