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Description

Moros intrepidus is a recently described species of Pantyrannosaurian Tyrannosauroid, originally discovered in 2013 and was formally described by Lindsay Zanno in February 2019. Moros lived in what is now Utah around 96.4 million years ago. Unfortunately Moros is only known from extremely fragmentary remains, the holotype specimen, NCSM 33392 consisting of the right femur, right tibia, right second and fourth metatarsal and the third and fourth phalanx of the fourth toe on the fight foot. Fortunately two premaxillary teeth were also discovered and presumed to be from the same individual, specimens NCSM 33393 and NCSM 33276. Based on these remains it was determined that Moros was a Tyrannosauroid and one belonging to the Clade, Pantyrannosaurian which excludes more primitive Tyrannosauroids like Megaraptors and Proceratosaurids. Moros is a significant discovery because it represents the geologically oldest Pantyrannosaurian in North America and is evidence of an earlier Tyrannosauroid migration from Asia to America before the ancestors of T. rex itself arrived. In terms of integument, unlike its larger and more derived Tyrannosaurid relatives, Moros was likely covered in simple protofeathers very similar to the integument of its close relative Dilong paradoxus (which is also now a Pantyrannosaurian not a Proceratosaurid). With this illustration I wanted to use less photoshop, so the digital alterations are at a minimum. It’s slightly different to my regular style but I think it looks fine.

Description

Moros intrepidus is a recently described species of Pantyrannosaurian Tyrannosauroid, originally discovered in 2013 and was formally described by Lindsay Zanno in February 2019. Moros lived in what is now Utah around 96.4 million years ago. Unfortunately Moros is only known from extremely fragmentary remains, the holotype specimen, NCSM 33392 consisting of the right femur, right tibia, right second and fourth metatarsal and the third and fourth phalanx of the fourth toe on the fight foot. Fortunately two premaxillary teeth were also discovered and presumed to be from the same individual, specimens NCSM 33393 and NCSM 33276. Based on these remains it was determined that Moros was a Tyrannosauroid and one belonging to the Clade, Pantyrannosaurian which excludes more primitive Tyrannosauroids like Megaraptors and Proceratosaurids. Moros is a significant discovery because it represents the geologically oldest Pantyrannosaurian in North America and is evidence of an earlier Tyrannosauroid migration from Asia to America before the ancestors of T. rex itself arrived. In terms of integument, unlike its larger and more derived Tyrannosaurid relatives, Moros was likely covered in simple protofeathers very similar to the integument of its close relative Dilong paradoxus (which is also now a Pantyrannosaurian not a Proceratosaurid). With this illustration I wanted to use less photoshop, so the digital alterations are at a minimum. It’s slightly different to my regular style but I think it looks fine.