By Sue Vorenberg / For The Associated Press
Posted: 07/31/2009 05:18:19 AM MDT
CIMARRON - Deep in the tropical jungle of northern New Mexico, hiding under the 100-foot canopy of trees, the ancient giant predator left an unmistakable mark when it got its foot stuck in the mud.
Tyrannosaurus rex, one of our state's most famous celebrities, roamed this part of the world around 66 million years ago, back when the now dry, sunny Land of Enchantment was a coastal jungle crossed with swampy, muddy rivers.
But while its toothy grin, massive legs and oddly tiny arms have made the animal an international superstar today, when it comes to digging up dirt on T. rex's mysterious past, the prehistoric paparazzi seem to have been sadly asleep at the switch.
Everything scientists know about the well-known predator stems from about 10 semi-complete skeletons, scattered handfuls of teeth and bone, and a confirmed footprint found at the Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimarron.
"This is the king of the tyrant lizards, the most famous dinosaur ever," said Spencer Lucas, paleontology curator at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. "And yet we know so little about him. We know he was here in New Mexico, but the sum of what we've found in the state is a jaw from Elephant Butte, some possible teeth and toe bones from near Farmington, and this footprint."
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more:
http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_12951250Since the skeleton of a dead T. Rex was not found standing in this footprint, it might well be that of some other species -- even an unknown species. Scientifically, footprints are named separately from skeletal remains. If the usual convention is followed, this will enter the scientific record under the name
Tyrannopus.
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