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For four decades, paleontologists argued whether small tyrannosaur fossils were teenage T. rex or something else. A Nature study identifies a North Carolina specimen as Nanotyrannus: analyses of the museum's dueling dinosaurs tyrannosaur show a nearly mature 20 year old with anatomy unlike T. rex, including larger forelimbs, a vestigial third finger, more teeth, distinct skull nerves, and fewer tail vertebrae. The team places Nanotyrannus on an early tyrannosaur branch and names Jane as Nanotyrannus lethaeus. Outside experts call the adult identification decisive, though debate over Jane continues.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.