Apparently The Tyrannosaurus Rex Is Three Different Species Becoming The Latest Scientific Discovery To Inspire Memes

According to a new study from the Journal of Evolutionary Biology, the beloved dino the Tyrannosaurus rex is actually three different dinosaurs, all under the "Tyrannosaurus" genus. The news has shocked many in the scientific community, as well as those outside it, where many have made the T. rex a household name — a schoolyard symbol of ancient, terrifying species.

Although the study is still considered contentious, the three paleontologists who have recently questioned the fossils, often located in notable museums on massive displays, have found that the bones in the arrangement do not line up. They believe that the fossils assigned to given T. rex clusters are actually three different body types, which they further consider to represent three separate Tyrannosaurus species. The two variants are called Tyrannosaurus regina and Tyrannosaurus imperator.

A group of researchers is proposing that Tyrannosaurus, the most famous of all dinosaurs and the ultimate apex predator, actually includes three species and not just the single T. rex, based on thighbone and tooth variations among dozens of its fossils. https://t.co/9qHXa0Uc9K

— Reuters Science News (@ReutersScience) March 1, 2022

The news hit Twitter yesterday after notable publications like Reuters and National Geographic tweeted about the development. Their posts received thousands of likes in less than 24 hours, inspiring heated debates on the platform.

However, most people took the proposed truth light-heartedly, creating memes about the T. rex en masse using multiple different meme templates like Spider-Man Pointing At Spider-Man and They're The Same Picture, among others, all having to do with humorous portrayals of deception.

Tyrannosaurus after this week in paleontology pic.twitter.com/CP1HiYd1UM

— Trinity 🏳️‍🌈🦖 (@TriSpinedLzrd) March 1, 2022

So how 'bout that tyrannosaurus paper, fellas? pic.twitter.com/tg1hWZIbVJ

— god's least favorite jeff goldblum impersonator (@TrikeDyke) March 1, 2022

#Tyrannosaurus #Spinosaurus
When there is a highly hyped and debated paper on Twitter about s giant theropod. pic.twitter.com/SDlfonYO52

— Darío Estraviz López (@DarioEstraviz) March 1, 2022

What if "Tyrannosaurus bataar" and "Tyrannosaurus imperator" booped snoots? pic.twitter.com/FpgUAYO0zr

— Emily Stepp (@Emily_Art) March 1, 2022

Tyrannosaurus this morning pic.twitter.com/ysS50iVkz5

— Tobe 🦖🦕🐊🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ (@That_Banana_boi) March 1, 2022

An exec at Universal Studios, thinking of a new Jurassic Park trilogy: pic.twitter.com/tsQKY8HLqO

— Ira Motley (@The_Motley) March 1, 2022

T-Rex, Rex, and Generator Rex.

You’re welcome. pic.twitter.com/bVE8wf4qEo

— Altair (@GodofInk96) March 1, 2022

pic.twitter.com/IcyCzrQZTd

— Lea the Lobster Monster (@MiguelHogar) March 1, 2022

This new study, however, does not deem that the T. rex never existed. It merely demonstrates that it doesn't look like the Jurassic Park version everyone has in their heads. If you feel bad at all about this possible discovery, just remember to be glad that none of these species exist today.