The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History will welcome an 85-percent intact T-Rex skeleton to its collection in October. The skeleton will be on a 50-year loan to the museum from the Army Corps Engineers and the state of Montana.
The Wankel T-Rex was discovered by a rancher named Kathy Wankel. It will go on display October 16. In the spring the Smithsonian will begin to refurbishing its dinosaur wing. Once renovations are complete the King of the Dinosaurs will return to public display in 2019.
The Wankel T-Rex was first discovered in 1988 and excavated by Jack Horner a paleontologist, between 1989 and 1990. The fossil is considered rare due to the fact it is one of the most complete T-Rex skeletons ever found. What makes the find so special is the intact skull, complete with teeth the size of bananas.
The Smithsonian issued a statement of thanks to those responsible for finding the T-Rex and loaning it to the museum. In the statement Kirk Johnson the Saint Director of the National Museum of Natural History said,
"We are thrilled to welcome this extraordinary T-Rex fossil to the Smithsonian. We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Museum of the Rockies, the state of Montana and the Wankel family for all they have done to make this possible. With the arrival of the Wankel T-Rex our museum visitors will be able to marvel at one of the finest dinosaur specimens in the world."
The Smithsonian has a vast dinosaur collection but until now it was missing one key element. The Tyrannosaurus-Rex. One of the largest apex predators to have walked the earth the Wankel T-Rex is measured at 38-feet long and weighs seven tons.
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