Tarbosaurus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur that flourished in Asia between 70 and 65 million years ago, at the end of the Late Cretaceous Period. Fossils have been recovered in Mongolia with more fragmentary remains found further afield in parts of China. Some experts contend that this species is actually an Asian representative of the North American genus Tyrannosaurus; if true, this would invalidate the genus Tarbosaurus altogether. Like most known tyrannosaurids, Tarbosaurus was a large bipedal predator, weighing more than a ton and equipped with dozens of large, sharp teeth. It had a unique locking mechanism in its lower jaw and the smallest forelimbs relative to body size of all tyrannosaurids, renowned for their disproportionately tiny, two-fingered forelimbs. Tarbosaurus lived in a humid floodplain criss-crossed by river channels. In this environment, it was an apex predator at the top of the food chain, probably preying on other large dinosaurs like the hadrosaur Saurolophus or the sauropod Nemegtosaurus. Tarbosaurus is very well-represented in the fossil record, known from dozens of specimens, including several complete skulls and skeletons. These remains have allowed scientific studies focusing on its phylogeny, skull mechanics, and brain structure.

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1775:

American Revolution: Patrick Henry made his "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses, urging the legislature to take military action against the British Empire. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_me_Liberty%2C_or_give_me_Death%21

1940:

Pakistan Movement: During its three-day general session, the Muslim League drafted the Lahore Resolution, calling for greater autonomy in British India. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahore_Resolution

1983:

The initial proposal to develop the Strategic Defense Initiative, a ground-based and space-based system to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles, was released. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Defense_Initiative

1996:

Lee Teng-hui was elected President of the Republic of China in the first direct presidential election in Taiwan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Teng-hui

2007:

Iranian military personnel seized 15 British Royal Navy personnel from HMS Cornwall, claiming that the British ship sailed into Iran's territorial waters. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Iranian_seizure_of_Royal_Navy_personnel

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

furlough (n): (US) A leave of absence or vacation, especially one granted to a member of the armed forces, or to a prisoner http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/furlough

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I believe that none can "save" his fellow man by making a choice for him. To help him, he can indicate the possible alternatives, with sincerity and love, without being sentimental and without illusion. The knowledge and awareness of the freeing alternatives can reawaken in an individual all his hidden energies and put him on the path to choosing respect for "life" instead of for "death." --Erich Fromm http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Erich_Fromm