janrinok writes:
"An article in Science Daily describes how a new dinosaur species, thought to be the largest predator found in Europe, has been discovered in Portugal. Originally thought to be Torvosaurus tanneri, a dinosaur species from North America, it was renamed after differences in the shin bone, upper jawbone, teeth, and partial tail vertebrae were noted. The new nomenclature, if approved, will be Torvosaurus gurneyi.
The article goes on:
T. gurneyi had blade-shaped teeth up to 10 cm long, which indicates it may have been at the top of the food chain in the Iberian Peninsula roughly 150 million years ago. The scientists estimate that the dinosaur could reach 10 meters long and weigh around 4 to 5 tons. The number of teeth, as well as size and shape of the mouth, may differentiate the European and the American Torvosaurus. The fossil of the upper jaw of T. tanneri has 11 or more teeth, while T. gurneyi has fewer than 11. Additionally, the mouth bones have a different shape and structure. The new dinosaur is the second species of Torvosaurus to be named.
'This is not the largest predatory dinosaur we know. Tyrannosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, and Giganotosaurus from the Cretaceous were bigger animals,' said Christophe Hendrickx. 'With a skull of 115 cm, Torvosaurus gurneyi was however one of the largest terrestrial carnivores at this epoch, and an active predator that hunted other large dinosaurs, as evidenced by blade shape teeth up to 10 cm.' Fossil evidences of closely related dinosaurs suggest that this large predator may have already been covered with proto-feathers. Recently described dinosaur embryos from Portugal are also ascribed to the new species of Torvosaurus.
The research paper from which the article above is drawn gives considerably more detail."
(Score: 3, Funny) by elgrantrolo on Saturday March 08 2014, @10:37AM
Should have been Torvosaurus Ronaldus.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Saturday March 08 2014, @01:19PM
Or for us Linux Soylentils
Torvosaurus Linus
(but I'm thinking it's not 'cute penguin biting Linus' like enough... its more of the '"clever girl" biting Linus' type.
This Sig for sale... beer IS an acceptable currency (bitBeer?).
(Score: 5, Funny) by MrGuy on Saturday March 08 2014, @10:44AM
It's been dead for millions of years! When you said it was new I got my hopes up.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 08 2014, @11:45AM
Time for engineers to stop being influenced buy.. lawyers and journalist?
(Score: 1) by lvxferre on Saturday March 08 2014, @04:32PM
Scientists consider renaming the species to Torvosaurus mustachious, after finding fossilized hair near the dino's upper lip.
Remnants of towels and bread dough also found.
Analysis of tooth fragments hints the species' diet - mainly composed of salt cod, bread and vowels.s.
[C'mon, Part'guesh guysh, you knew the jokes were coming.]
(Score: 2) by frojack on Saturday March 08 2014, @06:10PM
There is a page comparing size of Torvosaurus to T.Rex here:
http://dinosaurs.findthedata.org/compare/277-283/T orvosaurus-vs-Tyrannosaurus-Rex [findthedata.org]
T Rex is a couple feet taller, 8 feet longer, but well over three times as heavy.
Discussion should abhor vacuity, as space does a vacuum.
(Score: 2, Informative) by anubi on Sunday March 09 2014, @05:53AM
They dug up quite a few interesting animals you would expect to find in Africa right in the middle of the USA.
If interested, its at Ash Falls, Nebraska [unl.edu].
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]