**Suskityrannus: A Small Tyrannosaur**
Suskityrannus was a small dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 90 million years ago, in what is now New Mexico. Its name means “coyote tyrant,” drawing from the Zuni language where “suski” means “coyote.”
**Discovery and Naming**
The first fossils of Suskityrannus were discovered in 1998 by a geologist named Robert Denton and a local teen named Sterling Nesbitt. They found them while digging with paleontologist Doug Wolfe.
For some years, it was informally called various names like “Zuni coelurosaur” and “Zuni tyrannosaur.” It wasn’t until 2019 that scientists officially described it as Suskityrannus hazelae.
**What Did Suskityrannus Look Like?**
Suskityrannus was relatively small compared to other well-known tyrannosaurs. Its skull measured around 10 to 12 inches long. The specimens found are believed to be young individuals, meaning they hadn’t fully grown up yet. Despite that, researchers think that even as adults, they would have been smaller than many later tyrannosaur species.
**Importance in Dinosaur Evolution**
Suskityrannus helps scientists understand how tyrannosaurs evolved. It lived in a time when the environment was changing due to volcanic activity and tectonic shifts. Other dinosaurs found in the same area include Zuniceratops, a type of ceratopsian dinosaur, and Nothronychus, a herbivorous dinosaur.
**What Else Was Found With Suskityrannus?**
The fossils of Suskityrannus were found alongside many other animal remains, such as different species of turtles and the teeth of ancient crocodyliforms (crocodile-like reptiles). This helps paint a picture of what life was like millions of years ago in this region.
In summary, Suskityrannus is a significant find in paleontology, shedding light on the early stages of tyrannosaur evolution during a time of great environmental change.