Timurlengia
Named after Timur-Lenk (Tamerlane), the 14th-century Central Asian conqueror, reflecting the dinosaur's discovery in Uzbekistan
Late Cretaceous stages
Timurlengia is an extinct genus of tyrannosauroid dinosaurs known from the early Late Cretaceous (Turonian age) Bissekty Formation of the Kyzylkum Desert in Uzbekistan. The genus contains a single species, Timurlengia euotica, named in 2016 based on a braincase and numerous single bones of many individuals.
Diagnosis
- Diamond-shaped ventral supraoccipital projection excluded from foramen magnum rim
- Extremely short basal tubera approximately one-third depth of occipital condyle
- Deep funnel-like otic recess widely opening onto lateral braincase surface
- Large inner ear with robust semicircular canals
- Extremely robust semicircular canals compared to all other theropods
- Elongated cochlear duct extending far ventral to brain endocast
Species
Timurlengia euotica Brusatte et al., 2016
Type species
From Ancient Greek 'euotos' meaning 'well-eared', referring to the well-developed inner ear revealed by CT scans of the holotype braincase, indicating an ability to hear low-frequency sounds.
- Holotype
- ZIN PH 1146/16 , Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences
- Material
- Isolated braincase
- Horizon
- Bissekty Formation, Turonian, Late Cretaceous , 93.9–89.8 million years ago
- Locality
- Dzharakuduk, Navoiy, Uzbekistan
References
- Brusatte, S. L.; Averianov, A.; Sues, H. D.; Muir, A.; Butler, I. B. (2016). New tyrannosaur from the mid-Cretaceous of Uzbekistan clarifies evolution of giant body sizes and advanced senses in tyrant dinosaurs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113(13): 3447-3452. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi:10.1073/pnas.1600140113 brusatte2016a
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Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods. Princeton University Press.
Source of the hip height estimate.
jones2026c