Scientists Name Newly Found Dinosaur Species after Sauron

Paleontologists have announced the discovery of a meat-eating dinosaur—as big as a Tyrannosaurus rex—that roamed North Africa 95 million years ago.

But this predator isn't notable just for its singular size—it's also got unusual name to match. In a paper published October 27 in Cretaceous Research, its discoverers have dubbed it Sauroniops pachytholus as an homage to the "Lord of the Rings" villain Sauron, National Geographic reports.

Why that particular villain? It all has to do with a fossilized eye socket.

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