New dino species named Europe’s top predator

Fossils found in Portugal could belong to a new dinosaur species called Torvosaurus gurney. At up to 10 meters long and weighing in at four to five tons, this Tyrannosaurus rex–like beast could have been the biggest predator to ever roam Europe and among the largest dinosaurs to walk Earth during the late Jurassic period.

The fossils were first identified as part of the Torvosaurus tanneri species when they were discovered in 2003. But further analysis suggests that this new dino’s jaw has a distinct bony bulge and fewer teeth than T. tanneri‘s, scientists report March 5 in PLOS ONE. More evidence is needed to determine how distinct these species were.