Discover the Semi-completed Skull of an Adult Edmontosaurus – A captivating snapshot from the Late Cretaceous period, preserved at the Montana State Museum of the Rockies, showcases a dramatic encounter where a Tyrannosaurus rex attacks a duck-billed dinosaur.
This damaged Edmontosaurus skull was unearthed in 2005 within the Hell Creek Formation of eastern Montana.
Now housed in the Museum of the Rockies’ paleontology collection, this fossil offers a remarkable detail: the interior of the skull is filled with Tyrannosaurus teeth.
According to Taia Winberg-Henzler, a doctoral student from the University of Alberta, “While bite marks on fossils are somewhat common, discovering embedded teeth is exceptionally rare.”
“Analyzing these teeth, especially those lodged in a skull, allows us to identify the bitten and the biter,” she explains.
“This phenomenon enables us to envision the harrowing encounter involving this Edmontosaurus. It’s akin to being a detective at a prehistoric crime scene.”
Comparative analysis of the embedded teeth with all carnivorous species from the Hell Creek Formation revealed a match with the Tyrannosaurus. A CT scan of the skull provided deeper insights into this event.
“Fossils like this one are particularly fascinating because they capture the behavior of a Tyrannosaurus rex attacking this herbivore,” states John Scannella, the curator of paleontology at the Museum of the Rockies.
“With no signs of healing around the embedded Tyrannosaurus teeth, it suggests that the Edmontosaurus may have been deceased at the time of the attack or succumbed to its injuries.”
Based on the way the teeth are embedded in the nose of the Edmontosaurus, “This indicates what often transpires when predators kill their prey,” Winberg-Henzler notes.
“The force required to embed these teeth into the bone also signifies the use of lethal strength.”
“To me, this paints a chilling picture of the final moments for this Edmontosaurus,” she adds.
“The typical feeding habits of the Tyrannosaurus—considered one of the largest carnivores to ever roam the Earth—have sparked extensive research and debate over the years,” Dr. Scannella remarks.
“Insights gained from the teeth embedded within the Edmontosaurus skull allow for a deeper understanding of Tyrannosaurus behavior.”
For detailed findings, refer to the published study in the online journal PeerJ.
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TCA Winberg-Henzler and JB Scannella. 2026. Behavioral Effects of Tyrannosaurus Teeth and Associated Tooth Marks Embedded in an Articulated Skull of Edmontosaurus from the Hell Creek Formation in Montana. PeerJ 14: e20796; doi: 10.7717/peerj.20796
Source: www.sci.news
