Meet the Dueling Dinosaurs — Murphy and Manteo
December 29, 2025
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is thrilled to announce new names for the Dueling Dinosaurs — Murphy and Manteo.
The Dueling Dinosaurs are two of the most unique and best-preserved specimens ever uncovered. These 67-million-year-old fossils of a Triceratops and a newly confirmed Nanotyrannus have been on display in the Museum’s SECU DinoLab — the only paleontology preparation lab in the world that’s open to the public — since April 2024. Just last month, the Nanotyrannus was described as a distinct species, and not a teenage T. rex, as many scientists once believed.
“Naming these specimens helps people connect with them in a more personal way,” says N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela Cashwell. “Murphy and Manteo are not just fossils — they’re ambassadors for science, discovery and North Carolina’s role in rewriting dinosaur history.”
“Even though they were discovered in Montana, the Dueling Dinosaurs have since made North Carolina home,” adds Museum Director Denise Young. “It’s only fitting that their names represent the entirety of our great state and all the wonderful landscapes and biodiversity that it holds, from the mountains to the sea.”
Murphy the Triceratops, named for the westernmost town in North Carolina, symbolizes the strength and age of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Manteo the Nanotyrannus, named for the coastal town on Roanoke Island, represents discovery, change and the spirit of scientific exploration.
If you’ve yet to experience the Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit, there’s no better time than now. If it’s been a while since your last visit, there’s a lot to catch up on, as the exhibit has been updated to reflect the latest Nanotyrannus news. Come in, talk to our Paleo Team and say hello to Murphy and to Manteo, the fossil that “flips decades of T. rex research on its head.”
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