January 17th 2025.
During World War II, the skeleton of the Tameryraptor markgrafi was tragically blown up. The once magnificent fossils were reduced to a few sketches, leaving experts with very little to work with. As a result, the dino was quickly forgotten, with only a handful of drawings and photographs to serve as evidence of its existence. However, all of that changed when newly discovered images of the remains were uncovered.
For the first time, scientists were able to recreate the Tameryraptor markgrafi, shedding light on this mysterious creature. Maximilian Kellermann, a palaeontologist and master's student at LMU Munich, was part of the team that made this groundbreaking discovery. He expressed his surprise upon seeing the images, which provided a new perspective on the predator's appearance. The team's findings, recently published in PLOS ONE, revealed that the Tameryraptor markgrafi had symmetrical teeth, a nasal horn, and an enlarged frontal brain. These features set it apart from the Carcharodontosaurus, a similar genus that lived in Northwest Africa millions of years ago.
Kellermann went on to explain that the Egyptian dinosaur fossil differed significantly from more recent Carcharodontosaurus finds in Morocco, leading to the conclusion that Stromer's initial classification was incorrect. In fact, the team identified an entirely new species of predatory dinosaur and named it Tameryraptor markgrafi. They also discovered that, in addition to being closely related to Carcharodontosaurs, this species shared characteristics with a group of agile predators from Asia called Metriacanthosaurs. This discovery challenged the perception that dinosaur life was limited and showcased the incredible diversity that existed during the prehistoric era.
The process of naming this new species was also quite interesting. The name Tameryraptor is a combination of "Ta Mery," which is what ancient Egyptians used to call their country, and "raptor." The second word, "markgrafi," is a tribute to Richard Markgra, Stromer's fossil collector. This incredible find also highlights the importance of not only digging in the ground but also searching through old archives for valuable information.
Oliver Rauhut, from the Bavarian State Collection for Palaeontology and Geology, remarked on the significance of this discovery, stating that it demonstrates how worthwhile it can be for palaeontologists to explore not just the ground but also historical archives. However, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the Cretaceous predatory dinosaur fauna, more fossils would need to be recovered from the Bahariya Oasis site. Nonetheless, the Tameryraptor markgrafi remains an exceptional case in the world of palaeontology and continues to fascinate researchers and dinosaur enthusiasts alike.
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