The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh has officially named its Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit. The fossils are now called Murphy the Triceratops and Manteo the Nanotyrannus. Both fossils are about 67 million years old and have been on display in the museum’s SECU DinoLab since April 2024. The DinoLab is the only public paleontology preparation lab in the area. It allows visitors to observe fossil preparation and research.
Recent research confirmed that Nanotyrannus is a separate species, not a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex. This finding, announced last month, has led to updates in the museum’s displays. Museum Director Denise Young said the dinosaurs were named after North Carolina towns—Murphy in the west and Manteo on the coast—to represent the state’s geography and its involvement in dinosaur research.
Pamela Cashwell, Secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, said naming the fossils helps visitors connect with the exhibit. She noted that Murphy and Manteo highlight North Carolina’s role in scientific study. Although the fossils were found in Montana, they now represent the state’s interest in science…