Tyrannosaur Ancestral Tree Remains Limbless

Institute for Creation Research ^ | 3-28-16 | Tim Clarey, Ph.D.

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Tyrannosaur Ancestral Tree Remains Limbless

by Tim Clarey, Ph.D. *

Since Darwin's time, the lack of fossil evidence for vertical evolution has always been a problem for secular scientists. Now a recent paper published online in Scientific Reports attempts to map out the ancestry of tyrannosaurs.1

The two authors, Stephen Brusatte and Thomas Carr, hoped that the surge in new discoveries of tyrannosaurs would help in their analysis, noting that the "origins, phylogeny, and evolution of tyrannosaurids were long mysterious."1 However, their results produced no answers…only more questions.

In their report, they conclude, "Tyrannosauroids are the subject of more research and popular interest than most, or perhaps all, other dinosaurs. However, their fossil record is frustratingly incomplete and patchy."1 Science reporter, Laura Geggel also admits, "Fossil evidence is lacking, but researchers suspect that the predecessors of tyrannosaurs lived on the supercontinent Pangaea."2

In spite of new and recent discoveries, Brusatte and Carr still confess that several issues hamper their ability to map a tyrannosauroid ancestral tree.

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ICR article image.

[seawolf101]

The missing link is still missing.

[JimSEA]

“Tyrannosauroidea (meaning ‘tyrant lizard forms’) is a superfamily (or clade) of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaurs that includes the family Tyrannosauridae as well as more basal relatives. Tyrannosauroids lived on the Laurasian supercontinent beginning in the Jurassic Period. By the end of the Cretaceous Period, tyrannosauroids were the dominant large predators in the Northern Hemisphere, culminating in the gigantic Tyrannosaurus itself. Fossils of tyrannosauroids have been recovered on what are now the continents of North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Australia.”

Just plane old Wiki info. They shared a common ancestor with birds who are visibly similar and structure with T. Rex and also have feathers in their family.

[I am Richard Brandon]

If an alien came to earth and was given the partial skeletons of various breeds of dogs, would they classify the skeletons as members of the same ‘thing’ - dog?

[immadashell]

The missing link is still missing.

Have they thought to dig under Washington D.C.? They will probably find it either just below the surface or on it.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

They shared a common ancestor with birds who are visibly similar.

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When it comes to BBQ, I’m I’m content with chicken wings, but imagine the size of Tex Rex ‘wings’.

Guess we will never know. After all it’s survival of the fittest and the chicken is still here.

[SuzyQue]

It’s because of the really little hands.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Hey, if a Tyra self-identifies as a limbless tree, who am I to judge??

[JimSEA]

You’ll have to content yourself with ostrich legs on the BBQ!!

[aimhigh]

They remind me of kangaroos.

[Rebel_Ace]

"...If an alien came to earth and was given the partial skeletons of various breeds of dogs, would they classify the skeletons as members of the same ‘thing’ - dog?..."

Initially, probably not. Over time, eventually they would, because they would share identical component count and placement, because infant dogs (very young puppies) are all extremely similar, until they begin growing, and they would be found among all the specimens, and other orthopedic factors that "bone doctors" would be better qualified to address.

But initially, probably not. It would take a long time painstakingly gathering evidence.