Not a big baby

Key Points

• This research aims to clarify the classification of the Nanotyrannus fossil species and assess its status in the evolutionary tree.
• Employs comparative morphology analyses of fossil structures
• Utilizes phylogenetic modeling to assess evolutionary relationships
• Integrates diverse paleontological data from multiple sources
• Finds significant morphological differences between Nanotyrannus and other theropods
• Suggests that Nanotyrannus may represent a unique species rather than juvenile T. rex
• Indicates a need for re-evaluating fossil records to fully understand theropod evolution