Meraxes Gigas, discovered in northern Patagonia, Argentina, roamed the earth millions of years before Tyrannosaurus rex. But Juan Canale, the project leader at the Ernesto Bachmann Paleontological Museum in Neuquén, Argentina, tells CNN that Meraxes is not directly related to T. Rex. Image source: Carlos Papolio After recovering an almost complete forelimb, paleontologists found that Meraxes had much smaller hands compared to the size of the rest of its body. Similar to a very famous predatory dinosaur we all know and love from movies. Despite the discovery of many fossils, details about the anatomy of Meraxes have eluded scientists for nearly 30 years. The fossil recently discovered by researchers has revealed much more about the sarcophagus, including that it was 36 feet long and weighed more than four tons. The raptors belong to the Carcharodontosaurids, a group of dinosaurs that inhabited most continents during the Early Cretaceous period. While paleontologists continue to study the new bones for a deeper understanding of Meraxes, it has been given an appropriate name for now. According to the scientific journal Current Biology, Meraxes is named after a dragon in A Song of Ice and Fire ridden by Queen Rhaenys Targaryen, who is set to appear in the upcoming House of the Dragon series. Michelle Jalbert is a social coordinator and freelance contributor for IGN.
