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Ancient Bite Marks Reveal Tyrannosaurus: The Multifaceted Behavior of a Legendary Predator

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A transformative study conducted by paleontologists at Aarhus University challenges the long-held belief that tyrannosaurs were exclusively apex predators. By analyzing 16 meticulously mapped bite marks on the bones of a 75-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex, researchers found that smaller Tyrannosaurs scavenged on their larger tyrannosaurid relatives.

Visualization of a small Tyrannosaurus rex eating the carcass of a larger Tyrannosaurus. Image credit: Yu Xin, Shen Li, Liang Junwei, Aarhus University.

“Tyrannosaurus was the apex terrestrial predator in the Northern Hemisphere during the Late Cretaceous period,” stated lead author Josephine Nielsen, a master’s student at Aarhus University, alongside her research team.

“Species found in the Campanian region of the northern interior of western North America include Daspletosaurus and Gorgosaurus.”

“Tyrannosaurs were substantial predatory carnivores with massive skulls capable of enduring extreme bite forces and stresses.”

“Bites can crush and process bones, even from prey significantly larger than themselves, as evidenced by coprolites containing bone fragments.”

“However, such fossils do not provide direct evidence of biting strength, and debates continue concerning the feeding strategies of Tyrannosaurus and their ecological interactions.”

Nielsen and her colleagues utilized advanced 3D scanning technology to identify 16 bite marks on a fossilized metatarsal (foot bone) of a giant tyrannosaur.

“By examining the depth, angle, and position of the bite marks in a virtual 3D setting, we demonstrated that these marks were not incidental,” Nielsen remarked.

“These distinct tooth impressions of a smaller tyrannosaurus indicate scavenging on much larger relatives.”

This groundbreaking study sheds light on the recycling of resources in the age of dinosaurs, revealing their behaviors as scavengers.

The robust leg bones may have been consumed late in the decomposition phase, after most of the flesh had been stripped away.

“The bone lacks signs of healing after a bite from a smaller dinosaur,” Nielsen noted.

“The marks were found on a foot that had minimal flesh, indicating the dinosaur was possibly ‘sweeping’ and scavenging the last remnants of a carcass.”

The authors conducted their research using digital models and 3D printed replicas instead of original bones.

The metatarsals measured 10 cm in length and belonged to a tyrannosaurid estimated to be between 10 to 12 meters long and weighing several tons during its lifetime.

The bones were uncovered by amateur fossil hunters in the Judith River Formation in Montana. This region is an eroded landscape that acts as a geological archive of a 75-million-year-old ecosystem, teeming with dinosaur fossils.

“What makes this study exceptional is not only the insight into ancient dinosaur food chains, but also the innovative technology employed to extract these details.”

“By developing a digital version, we can now zoom in on intricate details.”

For more in-depth findings, visit this study published in the journal Evolving Earth.

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Josephine Nielsen et al. 2026. Investigating size-asymmetric feeding in tyrannosaurids using metatarsal tooth impressions from the Judith River Formation, Montana, USA. Evolving Earth 4:100107; doi: 10.1016/j.eve.2026.100107

Source: www.sci.news

Skull of a Massive Carnivorous Dinosaur Uncovers a “Bone-Crushing” Bite

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Illustration of Tyrannosaurus Rex

Roger Harris/Getty Images/Science Photo Library

When examining the colossal dinosaur skull, it becomes evident that some species prefer to shred their prey, while others deliver bone-crushing attacks.

Andre Lowe and Emily Rayfield from the University of Bristol, UK, studied the skulls of 18 Mesozoic theropod species. This varied group, including T. Rex, Giganotosaurus, and Spinosaurus, walked on two legs and was characterized by large heads and razor-sharp teeth.

Nevertheless, despite their similarities, each dinosaur’s feeding behavior cannot be generalized. Eric Snively from Oklahoma State University notes that Giganotosaurus, with its “thin sawtooth teeth” reminiscent of a cross between a great white shark and a Komodo Dragon, was designed for tearing away large chunks of flesh from its prey. In contrast, the semi-aquatic Spinosaurus had a unique anatomy likened to a heron supported by a dachshund body and equipped with teeth similar to those of crocodiles.

Using a 3D scan of the skull’s surface, the researchers explored the bite mechanics of these dinosaurs by employing a method to model bridge stress. By juxtaposing the skull muscle structures of each dinosaur with those of modern relatives like birds and crocodiles, they learned that Giganotosaurus and Spinosaurus had significantly weaker bites compared to the more recent Tyrannosaurus, which utilized a robust, shorter skull to exert substantial “bone-grabbing” force. “Ultimately, Tyrannosaurus showed more emphasis on the skull than we anticipated, thus indicating harder chewing,” Snively remarked.

“The feeding strategies of these apex predators are more intricate than previously thought,” states Fion Waisum Ma from the Beipiao Palace Museum in China. “T-Rex existed during the late Cretaceous period, a time when competition for hunting was intense,” she adds.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Bite Marks Indicate the Terrobird Was Likely Preyed Upon by an Even Larger Creature 13 Million Years Ago

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Sporting a shaft-like beak capable of inflicting devastating blows, the infamous terrorist birds have emerged as formidable adversaries for many species.

Around 13 million years ago, however, one such bird may have fallen prey to even larger predators. A group of Colombian paleontologists made this discovery while analyzing bite marks found on fossilized remnants of the fearsome avian.

Their findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal “Biology Letters.” The researchers hypothesized that the bird was killed and consumed by medium-sized caimans, a crocodilian species.

Andres Link, the study’s lead investigator, shared with NBC News via email, “This represents a captivating tale of interaction between two iconic animals from the past. Not only did we identify the first instance of terrorist birds in northern South America, but we also found the tooth marks of the large caiman that likely preyed on it.”

Most unusual fossils of terrorist birds have previously been found in the southern regions of the continent, as noted in this report.

Link, an associate professor in biological sciences at the University of Los Andes, remarked that while tooth marks are “not uncommon” in the fossil record, it is “thrilling” to find proof that apex predators could fall victim to others.

The paper in “Biology Letters” highlights that there were no signs of healing on the tooth marks, indicating a fatal attack.

This leads researchers to conclude that terrorist birds may have been more vulnerable to predation than previously believed.

Julian Bayona Becerra / Biology Letters

To determine the identity of the predator, Link and his team performed scans of the fossils and examined the size, shape, and arrangement of the tooth marks. By comparing these features with alligator-like teeth from the region, they deduced that the marks likely belong to a caiman measuring about 15 feet long.

Link noted that it was challenging to ascertain whether the caiman consumed the terrorist bird after killing it or scavenged the carcass. If the bird was alive during the encounter, it likely happened while it was drinking at the riverbank; alternatively, if it was already deceased, the caiman may have found it near the water.

“This narrative remains incomplete, as we lack further evidence to support either hypothesis,” Link stated.

The discovery calls into question the traditional view of “linear relationships between predators and their herbivore prey,” he remarked, adding, “The food web is considerably more intricate.”

The lower section of the bird’s left leg featured in this research was excavated two decades ago by local paleontologist Cesar Perdomo in the renowned La Venta fossil layer of Colombia.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

First Evidence of Gladiator Battles with Lions revealed through Skeleton Bite Marks

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In Roman arenas, gladiators fought lions and other wildlife. Despite the tales of epic battles found in ancient texts, sculptures, mosaics, and portrayed in modern media, physical evidence of gladiators with animal-inflicted wounds has never been discovered by archaeologists.

Recently, skeletal remains from Roman settlements in the UK provided the first direct evidence of gladiators who were injured by lions.

The discovery was made during excavations in York, where a couple was planning to renovate their garden. The cemetery found at the site halted construction plans and revealed a rich Roman archaeological history in the region.

Tim Thompson, an anthropologist from Maynooth University and author of a paper published in the journal PLOS One, highlighted the significance of this discovery in shedding light on ancient Roman practices.

The site in York contained the remains of over 80 individuals, mostly young men with signs of trauma on their bodies. The demographics, injuries, and burial practices suggest that these individuals were gladiators who fought in the area nearly 1,800 years ago.

One particular skeleton, identified as 6DT19, displayed a unique wound on its hip bone that resembled bite marks from a large animal, possibly a lion.

Further analysis indicated that the injuries on the skeletons could indeed be bite marks from large animals like lions. This finding challenged previous beliefs about the absence of physical evidence of gladiators fighting animals.

Dr. Thompson and his team collaborated with British zoos to study animal bite marks and compare them to the skeletal injuries found on the ancient remains.

Through meticulous analysis and comparison, they concluded that the injuries on the gladiators matched those inflicted by lions. While the bite on 6DT19 likely did not cause death, it provided valuable insights into the practices and culture of the Roman Empire.

This discovery not only sheds light on individual lives from the past but also reveals the extent of Roman influence and entertainment involving gladiator battles with animals.

Dr. Marklein, an anthropologist from the University of Louisville, emphasized the significance of these findings in understanding Roman society and its use of violence as entertainment and political display.

Gladiator games served not only as spectacles of power but also as warnings and demonstrations of Roman citizenship and virtue.

This discovery underscores the complex relationship between humans, animals, and culture in ancient Rome.

Source: www.nytimes.com