In a surprising discovery, a family hiking in the North Dakota Badlands stumbled upon the rare juvenile skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex. The find, believed to be a tibia of a 10-foot-tall, 3,500-pound dinosaur named Teen Rex, has garnered attention from scientists and paleontologists worldwide.

The discovery took place in the summer of 2022 when two brothers, their father, and a 9-year-old cousin noticed large bones protruding from a rock during their hike. Initially unsure of what they had found, the father captured photos and shared them with a paleontologist acquaintance. Subsequent analysis revealed the significance of their find, marking it as a rare and valuable discovery.

According to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, only a few similar fossils of juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex have been unearthed globally, making this finding particularly noteworthy. The fossil, measuring approximately 32 inches, is a remarkable specimen that sheds light on the prehistoric world and the creatures that once roamed the earth.

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science announced the discovery, drawing attention to the importance of such findings in expanding our understanding of dinosaurs and their evolution. The family’s accidental discovery has opened up new avenues for research and study, offering insights into the life and characteristics of these ancient predators.