Asia's longest tyrannosaur femur fossil identified in East China

JINAN -- Researchers in Zhucheng, East China's Shandong province, have identified an exceptionally large tyrannosaur femur fossil, measuring 1.21 meters in length.

After joint analysis efforts also involving paleontologists from the United States and Canada, it was confirmed as the longest tyrannosaur femur ever found in Asia.

The research team also identified a massive tyrannosaur vertebra fossil exceeding 28 centimeters in width. Size comparisons show this vertebra closely matches those of Sue -- one of the largest known Tyrannosaurus rex specimens.

Combined with the oversized femur, this indicates that Zhucheng once hosted tyrannosaurs rivaling Sue in terms of size -- exceeding 12 meters long, according to the researchers.

Zhucheng, notably, has previously yielded fossils identified as the Zhuchengtyrannus magnus, currently recognized as the area's confirmed tyrannosaur species.

"While further identification is needed to confirm if the new fossils belong to the known Zhuchengtyrannus magnus, their dimensions substantiate its status as Asia's largest tyrannosaur. They also provide new fossil evidence supporting the hypothesis that Tyrannosauruses originated in Asia," said Chen Shuqing from Zhucheng's dinosaur culture research center.

Nicknamed "China's dinosaur city," Zhucheng has seen over 10 new dinosaur species named by institutions including the Chinese Academy of Sciences.