Particle.news
Get it on Google Play
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
5h ago

Raptor Tooth Marks Found on Albertosaurus Jaw Suggest Scavenging

Measurements of tooth‑mark spacing and the absence of bone healing point to scavenging by a small dromaeosaurid as the likeliest explanation.

University of Alberta researchers say bite marks on an Albertosaurus found near Drumheller in the Alberta badlands could be the first evidence of a small raptor feeding on a tyrannosaur.
Joshua Doyan is a master's student in paleontology at the U of A who led the research into the bite marks. The fossils in front of the skull were a part of the research study.

Overview

  • The fossil was discovered by a member of the public near Drumheller, Alberta in 2022 and reported to the Royal Tyrrell Museum for collection and preparation.
  • Museum technicians noticed small tooth marks on the lower jaw while preparing the sub‑adult Albertosaurus specimen and forwarded it for research.
  • A University of Alberta study led by master's student Joshua Doyon with input from Philip Currie compared the spacing and shape of the marks to teeth of local carnivores to identify the bite maker.
  • Researchers found no sign of bone healing at the bite sites, which suggests the marks were made at or shortly after death and supports the scavenging interpretation even though a juvenile Albertosaurus remains a possible alternative.
  • The finding provides rare direct evidence of one carnivore feeding on another and will help researchers refine models of Late Cretaceous predator interactions while highlighting the role of museum curation in revealing behavioral traces.