A new dinosaur has been identified from fossils dug up in China and has been nicknamed it T-Rex's cousin.
The dinosaur has been officially named Zhuchengtyrannus magnus in honour of Zhucheng, the city in which the fossils were found Photo: AFP/GETTY
The gigantic creature roamed North America and east Asia between about 65 million and 99 million years ago.
Researchers led by Dr David Hone, from University College Dublin, discovered fragments of fossils from the meat eater in a so-called dinosaur quarry in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong.
Known as a theropod because it walks on its two hind legs, the dinosaur is said to be a close relative of T-rex.
It was identified from skull, jaw bone and pieces of teeth. Based on their size it measured about 11m long, stood about 4m tall and weighed close to six tonnes.
Dr Hone, from UCD's school of biology and environmental science, spent three years at the Shandong site before joining the Dublin college.
