U of A paleontology students find first evidence of raptor feeding on tyrannosaur
Bite marks on an eight-year-old Albertosaurus jawbone suggest a small raptor scavenged the apex predator about 70 million years ago in what is now Alberta.
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Researchers at the University of Alberta have identified what they believe is the first evidence of a raptor feeding or scavenging on a tyrannosaur, based on bite marks found on the jawbone of a juvenile Albertosaurus fossil.
Joshua Doyon, a paleontology master's student, began studying the specimen as an undergraduate in 2023. He compared the spacing between the bite marks with tooth spacing in carnivorous dinosaurs that coexisted with Albertosaurus — a close relative of Tyrannosaurus rex that lived in what is now Alberta roughly 73 to 67 million years ago.
"At that time, something happened to this dinosaur. It died. And right after it died, or soon after, something bit it and was feasting on the meat," Doyon said on Friday.
The eight-year-old Albertosaurus, roughly six metres long and weighing approximately 530 kilograms, had two likely culprits narrowed from analysis: a raptor (more likely) or a baby Albertosaurus about two metres long (less likely — essentially cannibalism by a much smaller juvenile). No signs of healing around the bite marks indicate they were made around the time of death or shortly afterward, pointing to feeding or scavenging rather than an earlier injury.
The specimen — scattered skull fragments — was found north of Drumheller in Alberta's badlands and reported by a member of the public in 2022. The Royal Tyrrell Museum collected and prepared it, with technicians discovering what they suspected were tooth marks. The University of Alberta then forwarded it for further analysis.
Philip Currie, the University of Alberta professor of dinosaur paleobiology and Doyon's supervisor, described the find as rare. "This is one of those rare occasions where we actually have information on carnivore eating a carnivore," Currie said.
Doyon noted that examining details such as bite marks can help researchers understand dinosaur biology and ecosystem dynamics. "That might lead us to a better understanding of the interactions and who was eating who in that ecosystem," he said.
The facts
What dinosaur was found with bite marks?
An eight-year-old Albertosaurus jawbone was discovered with bite marks. The specimen, roughly six metres long and weighing approximately 530 kilograms, was found north of Drumheller in Alberta's badlands.
What likely made the bite marks?
A small raptor most likely made the bite marks, though a baby Albertosaurus about two metres long was considered a less likely alternative. The marks showed no signs of healing, indicating they were made around the time of death or shortly afterward.
Who led the analysis of the specimen?
Joshua Doyon, a paleontology master's student at the University of Alberta, began studying the specimen as an undergraduate in 2023 and compared the bite mark spacing with tooth spacing in carnivorous dinosaurs.
