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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Photo: Mighty T. Rex Killed by Pigeon Parasite?


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An artist's rendering shows how a Tyrannosaurus rex suffering from a parasitic infection similar to the modern avian disease trichomonosis might develop holes in its jawbone.

A new look at holes in jaw of the famous T. rex fossil "Sue" suggests the 42-foot-long (12.8-meter-long) predator was ultimately taken down by a parasite akin to trichomonosis, scientists said in September 2009.

Renderings by Chris Glen, University of Queensland, via University of Wisconsin-Madison