Fun Suskityrannus Facts For Kids

Initially regarded as 'Zuni tyrannosaur' and 'Zuni basin coelurosaur' before the scientific intervention, the Suskityrannus is a tyrannosauroid dinosaur species that dwelled on the earth about 92 million years ago in the Turonian period of the Late Cretaceous. In 2011, it was referred to as 'Zunityrannus' in the documentary named 'Planet Dinosaur'.

Wolfe and Kirkland mistook it for a mini dromaeosaurid.

However, a geologist named Robert Denton, an American paleontologist, Sterling Nesbitt, and Doug Wolfe first discovered the fossils. Fossil remains of only two specimens could be retrieved to date and both are suspected to be juveniles - as observed from the bone rings, one of them was perhaps just three years old before it perished.

Since the discovery involved juveniles only, it's incompetent to shed light on the body structure and behaviorisms of the adults.

If you want to have a clearer idea of how the Suskityrannus looked then you can visit the Arizona Museum of Natural History with your kids. The skeletal remains (both paratype and holotype specimens) of the dinosaur are preserved in this museum.

To feed your inquisitive mind with some more fascinating facts about this tyrannosaurus keep reading.You can also indulge in these lesser-known facts about other dinosaurs such as the Gorgosaurus and Eocarcharia.

Suskityrannus Interesting Facts

How do you pronounce 'Suskityrannus'?

The pronunciation of this dinosaur species goes 'Sus-kit-eye-RAN-us Hay-ze-lay'. Very little data is available about these dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous stage due to the dearth of fossil evidence.

What type of dinosaur was a Suskityrannus?

The genus is entirely composed of primitive tyrannosauroids. Suskityrannus was a tyrannosauroid that perhaps had feathers. It cannot be mentioned with certainty whether they could fly because feathers were absent from the fossil remains. However, it was not as mammoth as the Tyrannosaurus rex.

In which geological period did the Suskityrannus roam the earth?

These dinosaurs date back to the Turonian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Researchers believe that they were quite older than the titanic tyrannosaurs as they lived some million years prior to their existence. It resided in what the current generation calls North America.

When did the Suskityrannus become extinct?

The exact details about the time when these tyrannosauroids became extinct are still unknown. In general, innumerable reasons like global environmental changes, volcanic eruptions, and collisions with celestial bodies have been considered and analyzed by scientists across the world.

Where did a Suskityrannus live?

Excavations on the Zuni basin led to the discovery of fossils on the Moreno Hill Formation of western New Mexico. Links could also be established with the smaller as well as older tyrannosaurs located in North America. Hence, it's safe to conclude that Suskityrannus hazelae could be found in western New Mexico and the USA.

What was a Suskityrannus' habitat?

The habitat from where the first fossil record was dug out was previously a coastal region covered with dense forests. The tyrannosaur was therefore suited to a humid climate.

Who did a Suskityrannus live with?

Due to the dearth of concrete scientific evidence, the social behavior of the dinosaur cannot be mentioned. It is unknown whether the tyrannosauroid dwelled in groups or preferred to remain aloof from the company of others.

How long did a Suskityrannus live?

Information about the average lifespan of a Suskityrannus hazelae is deficient. Both specimens that could be unraveled belonged to young dinosaurs. As per analysis, it was deciphered from the growth of the bones that one was just about three years old when it bit the dust.

How did they reproduce?

The behavior of these tyrannosauroids during reproduction could not be gathered but it is known that the babies hatched from eggs.

Typically, after hatching, the babies are capable of surviving on their own due to which they don't require parental care like the babies of most mammals. Some female dinosaurs engage in an incubation period ranging between three to six months but it is not known whether this is true for these tyrannosauroids.

Detailed research is necessary to shed light on the breeding season, courtship rituals (if any), parental care, gestation period, and other aspects of the reproduction process.

Suskityrannus Fun Facts

What did a Suskityrannus look like?

When compared with the tyrannosaurs, Suskityrannus hazelae displayed a slender skull and foot. It is also believed that just like birds, these early tyrannosaurs had feathers but no traces of feathers could be found on the fossils. As revealed by the specimen fossils, they possessed a larger brain which implies that these tyrannosauroids were pretty smart.

How many bones did a Suskityrannus have?

Since the tyrannosaur belongs to the Late Cretaceous period, it offers vital clues about both the early Cretaceous as well as the mid-Cretaceous periods. The bones that were collected from the excavation site belonged to juveniles but the number of bones that constituted the entire physiology of these dinosaurs remains a mystery.

Some postcranial and skull bones could only be gathered from the site but the structure remains incomplete.

How did they communicate?

In general, dinosaurs engage in both vocal and visual interactions. Paleontologists are quite certain that sounds were an important medium of communication and they believe that these pre-historic animals emit deep bellowing sounds that sound like a horn. The vocalizations are more like closed-mouthed emissions of air.

How big was a Suskityrannus?

A Suskityrannus size was not too large as it measured 9.8 ft (3 m) in length while it stood 3.3 ft (1 m) tall. However, there's no concrete fossil record to prove this as both specimens were those of juveniles and no adult specimens could be unearthed.

However, the tyrannosauroid is slightly longer than a mature Tyrannosaurus rex's skull. The gigantic adult Tyrannosaurus rex measured around 40 ft (12.3 m) in length.

How fast could a Suskityrannus move?

Due to the lack of scientific data, the accurate movement speed of the Suskityrannus hazelae cannot be stated with precision. However, the tyrannosauroid is believed to possess swift reflexes and high agility due to the hind legs and smaller, comparatively lightweight body.

How much did a Suskityrannus weigh?

The average weight of these dinosaurs is believed to be around 44-88 lb (20-40 kg).

What were the male and female names of the species?

Males and females don't have any specific names. Generally, a female is called a 'saura' while its male counterpart is referred to as a 'saurus'.

What would you call a baby Suskityrannus?

A baby of any tyrannosaur can be regarded as a nestling or hatchling simply because it hatches out of an egg, like a baby bird.

What did they eat?

The skull bones and enormous jaws show that these dinosaurs had a sturdy construction ideal for hunting and preying hence believed to be carnivorous like their relative, Tyrannosaurus rex. However, since they're not as large as their relative, it can be inferred that their diet must have comprised the meat of small animals, mostly smaller dinosaurs.

How aggressive were they?

It can be contended that as a close relative of the Tyrannosaurus rex and a member of the Tyrannosauroidea superfamily, this tyrannosauroid was an aggressive predator.

Although fossil remains point at a tiny body size when compared to the Tyrannosaurus rex, the 'coyote tyrant' was extremely ferocious in rendering powerful attacks on smaller herbivorous dinosaurs or other animals while preying on them considering its jaw structure and strong hind legs.

Did you know...

Did you know that these early tyrannosaurs possessed a larger brain? According to Doug Wolfe's research based on the specimen retrieved from the Moreno Hill Formation, the brain of the tyrannosauroid was larger when contrasted with the body plan.

What does the name 'Suskityrannus' mean?

In the Zuni language, the term 'suski' implies 'coyote' therefore, the name of the species translates to 'coyote tyrant'. This theropod dinosaur is one of those tyrant lizards that were characterized by gigantic skulls and large teeth.

What species of Suskityrannus are there?

The genus is composed of only one species, namely the Suskityrannus hazelae or the 'coyote tyrant'. This dinosaur inhabited North America and New Mexico approximately 92 million years ago.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly dinosaur facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Dakotaraptor fun facts and Utahraptor facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable T Rex Fossil coloring pages.

*The first image is by Kumiko from Tokyo, Japan.

*The second image is by Evolutionnumber9.