Tyrannosaurus rex — the most fearsome predator ever to trod the Earth — had a pint-size precursor, remarkably similar in appearance but no heavier than a human being, according to a new report from a team of scientists. The creature was what Austin Powers might call T. rex’s Mini-Me.

via Smuggled Dinosaur Fossil Scrambles Picture of Tyrannosaurus Rex – washingtonpost.com.

I believe I read recently that the fossils that had been smuggled out of China were being returned to the Chinese Government.  But this is fascinating.  As the article states, the fossil was sold to a private collector and may have come from inner Mongolia.

This kind of news really brings out the kid in me.  And it makes me want to travel to places like China….