March, 2008 | Everything Dinosaur Blog

13 03, 2008

Triceratops for Sale

By Mike|2023-02-17T15:09:14+00:00March 13th, 2008|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Triceratops Available to the Highest Bidder – Three-horned Face up for Auction

An almost complete fossil Triceratops, perhaps one of the best known of all the dinosaurs, is going under the hammer at Christie’s; the auction house in Paris next month. There is a Triceratops for sale at an auction house.

The almost 70% complete fossil is the prize lot in an auction of 150 rare items from natural history collections – fossils, skeletons and minerals expected to fetch in excess of £1.225 million GBP (1.6 million EUR).

As well as the three-horned dinosaur, there will be opportunities to purchase a Sabre-toothed cat skull, a tyrannosaur egg, plus the tibia (shinbone) of an Apatosaurus. Although it is difficult to put a reserve on such unique and rare items; the egg is expected to fetch over £15,000 GBP (20,000 EUR) and the sauropod tibia around £23,000 (30,000 EUR).

The Triceratops is certainly the star attraction, the fossil is almost 70% complete, the missing bones having been replaced by resin replicas to provide an articulated and posed exhibit. It will be the first time a dinosaur specimen has gone up for public sale since the Tyrannosaurus rex called Sue was auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York on October 27th 1997. Sue, an almost complete T. rex fetched $8.36 million USD, it is unlikely bidding for this Triceratops will reach those dizzy heights, but if you want a three-horned face for your living room or hall expect to pay about £380,000 GBP (500,000 EUR) for the privilege.

Triceratops for Sale

Triceratops is perhaps the most famous of the horned dinosaurs. It gets its name from the three forward facing horns on its face, approximately 60 skulls have been excavated plus a number of disarticulated specimens. Finding a complete fossilised Triceratops is an exceptionally rare event. The skull of an adult Triceratops is over 3 metres in length, it would have been exceptionally heavy and as there was not a great deal of meat on it, this part of the Triceratops was often left alone by Tyrannosaurus rex which predated on these animals. The robust nature of the skull favoured preservation so there is a reasonable amount of fossilised skull material in the fossil record. However, the rest of the animal has proved to be much more difficult for palaeontologists to find.

If a Triceratops had been killed by a meat-eater the carcase would have been broken up and eaten. What remained would have been soon scavenged so little would remain available for transport and preservation as fossils. Even if a Triceratops died of natural causes the body would still have been attacked by hungry scavengers, quick to seize the opportunity of an easy meal.

The Herding and Social Behaviour of Triceratops

The herding and social behaviour of Triceratops also seems to have counted against it when it comes to fossilisation potential. Unlike other ceratopsians, Triceratops seems to have moved around in relatively small groups, so there is less likely to find a mass bone-bed with Triceratops than with other slightly earlier horned dinosaurs such as Centrosaurus.

Some scientists claim that there may be up to ten different species of Triceratops. Subtle differences in skull morphology may indicate separate species, although these differences may be due to ontogeny and sexual dimorphism (skull shapes change as animals age and there may be difference between males and females of the same species). The species represented in the auction exhibit is T. horridus, the largest recognised species of Triceratops. Triceratops horridus means “horrible horned face” , but hopefully this name will not put off any bidders.

It certainly is a large specimen with an overall length of 7.5 metres and a total fossil weight of approximately 2 Tonnes – very impressive; but a full size T. horridus would have exceeded 9 metres in length and some scientists estimate a body weight of around 10,000 KGs (that is the equivalent of two African elephants).

The fossil skeleton was originally found by a ranch owner in the US state of North Dakota and acquired in 2004 by a European buyer who wants to remain anonymous, said a Christie’s spokesman.

“This specimen is the fourth most complete discovered so far,” he went on to state.

For many years scientists debated how Triceratops might have walked. Two schools of thought emerged, one school believed that Triceratops moved its front legs like a lizard in a more sprawling type gait. The second group of scientists believed that Triceratops walked with its elbows tucked in under the body, like a modern Rhinoceros. To substantiate which theory was most likely to be correct the palaeontologists needed one crucial piece of evidence – an articulated Triceratops with the feet in situ.

Unfortunately, tyrannosaurs and other meat-eaters tend to leave only scraps. When ever fossils of Triceratops were found the feet were almost never located. Perhaps the feet of Triceratops were especially tasty for a tyrannosaur, a delicacy almost, like chicken feet are a delicacy in some parts of Asia. More likely, the large amount of meat on this part of the animal would have made the bones attractive and although large, many predators at the time were capable of picking up and moving Triceratops limbs away from the rest of the carcase to consume without the danger of the body attracting other hungry mouths to threaten them.

Not so long ago a partially articulated fossil Triceratops was discovered. The whole of the left side of the carcase had been washed away but the right side was almost complete and most importantly of all, the feet remained. It was hoped that this specimen (nick-named Raymond), would solve the mystery of how Triceratops walked once and for all. Unfortunately, the bones had been rather flattened and squashed during preservation so the fossil evidence could in effect, be interpreted and presented in such a way to support both theories. Scientists seemed to be no nearer understanding whether this four-legged leviathan walked like a lizard or in a more erect pose like a rhino.

Thankfully, the discovery of some beautifully preserved fossilised Triceratops ribs and other body parts including shoulder blades helped shed some further light onto this mystery. Scientists were able to see how the front legs would have moved in relation to the shoulder blade sockets. The result, led some scientists to conclude that Triceratops had a semi-erect posture, somewhere between walking with a sprawling gait like a lizard and the elbows tucked underneath walking style of a Rhinoceros.

A Model of Triceratops with “modern pose”

Schleich dinosaur model.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The model shown is from the Schleich Dinosaur series, it depicts Triceratops with a semi-erect stance with the hind legs, bowed out a bit to make room for the animal’s enormous gut.

To view the hand-painted Triceratops model: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

The bright colours shown on this particular model is following a trend amongst palaeontologists to illustrate herding dinosaurs with stark, contrasting colours. It is believed that Triceratops had excellent colour vision and it may have used body patterns to communicate with other members of the herd, show dominance, social status and such like.

Prices for dinosaur fossils have reached record levels in recent years. They have become the “must haves” of the rich and famous, so this has led to the removal of many important finds out of scientific circles and into private collections.

Even movie stars have started collecting dinosaurs, to read an article on celebrities arguing over tyrannosaurs: Dinosaur Bidding Wars – Celebrities push up prices of Dinosaur Fossils.

12 03, 2008

Two-Toed Footprint found in Korea – Dromaeosaurs in Korea

By Mike|2023-02-17T15:10:28+00:00March 12th, 2008|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|4 Comments

Two-Toed Footprint – Evidence that Dromaeosaurs stalked Ancient Korea

Reports have been circulated that a researcher from the Korean National University of Education has discovered a two-toed dinosaur footprint. Only one family of dinosaurs is known to have made two-toed prints, the bipedal dromaeosaurs (the family is Dromaeosauridae means “swift lizards”). Members of the Dromaeosauridae include animals such as Velociraptor, Deinonychus and Utahraptor. A trace fossil such as a two-toed print is indicative of a dromaeosaur. These animals did have three toes that reached the ground, but the claw on the second toe was raised when it walked, keeping it sharp and pointed. This was the infamous “sickle claw”. Hence when these animals walked or ran, only two-toed prints were left behind.

An illustration of the dromaeosaurid Adasaurus.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur stocks the popular Beasts of the Mesozoic range of dromaeosaurid models. To view this range of articulated dinosaur figures: Beasts of the Mesozoic Models and Figures.

From South Gyeongsang Province

This trace fossil was found in South Gyeongsang Province. It is relatively small when compared to other theropod footprints, measuring 15.5 cm in length with a width of 8.4 cm, but this is a significant find as dromaeosaur trackways, like most meat-eater trackways are very rare when compared to the tracks made by herbivores. This phenomenon is due to the fact that there are more prey animals around at any one time than predators. This is the first evidence of dromaeosaurs in Korea, the strata in which the print was found has been dated to 100 million years ago.

Dromaeosaurs in South Korea

This print proves that there were small “raptor-like” dinosaurs in Korea during the Cretaceous.

Recently, a dromaeosaur trackway was unearthed in China, it may indicate social, pack behaviour. To read more about this discovery:

Fossil Trackway provides Evidence of Pack Behaviour in Raptors.

11 03, 2008

Once more into the Studio we Go

By Mike|2023-02-19T10:59:32+00:00March 11th, 2008|Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page|0 Comments

Prehistoric Animals Captured on Film!

Cryptozoologists spend years researching, seeking information and piecing together evidence in support of claims that mythological creatures or supposedly long extinct animals still wander around the planet. There have been many reported sightings of sea and lake monsters; could these be plesiosaurs perhaps? Sir Arthur C. Clarke commented on the authenticity of Woolly Mammoth sightings reported in the 17th century in his book based on the ITV television series “Arthur C. Clarke’s Mysterious World”.

Prehistoric Animals

A number of popular myths concerning dinosaurs still being around persist, the most famous is perhaps the long-necked, sauropod-like Mokele-Mbembe that lurks in the deepest, darkest parts of the Congo. How a forested and flooded area less than 2 million years old is supposedly harbouring a population of Sauropods, remnants from the Mesozoic is not easy to explain, but so long as such inaccessible and relatively unexplored places exist then these stories and myths will continue.

To read an article on Sir Arthur C. Clarke: Happy 90th Birthday Sir Arthur C. Clarke!

Photographing Prehistoric Animals

For team members at Everything Dinosaur, photographing prehistoric animals is made a lot easier. For us, having the opportunity to photograph prehistoric animals does not entail long treks into far off and distant lands. However, it does mean a trip to Wales, to a small town called Cefn Mawr, where we met up with Michael, a professional photographer, who had been given the task of helping us create some images of our new products.

Michael is a member of the Master Photographers Association, and all of his twenty plus years experience as a professional photographer was applied to the task of creating shots of our new dinosaur themed tableware, biscuit making moulds, new T-shirts, books and models. There was even a requirement to photograph some dinosaur teeth!

Into the Studio

Using Michael’s own well equipped studio, our team, working under Michael’s supervision were able to complete the photography in a morning. Starting with the small, intricate shots of new models and working up to the bigger products such as the beach set inflatables. The final few pics involved an Everything Dinosaur team member, pictures being taken in preparation for a forthcoming press release.

Taking a short break from preparing a Polacanthus and helping to compose a Cryolophosaurus we were able to relax in the very comfortable office that adjoins the studio and admire the results of some of the more routine photographic assignments. The walls display a range of different types of photography from splendid wedding shots to intimate family portraits and touching shots of new babies with their proud parents.

Certainly, our brief to photograph a range of prehistoric animal themed items is a little out of the ordinary, but Michael and his partner take it all in their stride.

Smile Please – An Unusual Family Portrait (Prehistoric Mammals)

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

“Ice Age Mammals” Photoshoot

The picture shows Michael, shooting the “Ice Age” Mammals from the Natural History Museum box set, just one of the unusual subjects that he was asked to photograph during the day.

To view the prehistoric animal box set: Dinosaur Toys and Prehistoric Animal Models.

For a number of shots, close ups were required; it is a good job the studio floor is cushioned and sprung as Michael spent most of the morning on his knees, taking care to ensure each new product could be shown at its best. The final images will be well worth all the effort, and will help us to show customers the products that we supply in our shop.

As for Michael, with a background in commercial photography, PR shoots as well as family portraits and weddings it was all in a morning’s work.

10 03, 2008

An Update on Those Long-Limbed Tyrannosaurs

By Mike|2023-02-24T17:56:33+00:00March 10th, 2008|Dinosaur Fans|0 Comments

Looking at the North Laramidian Tyrannosaur Albertosaurus

Despite their frequent appearance in monster movies the Tyrannosauridae are perhaps not as well known as many people might think, especially when they are faced with the overwhelming number of tyrannosaur exhibits on display at Natural History museums. Expect the BBC and 20th Century Fox to portray a member of the tyrannosaurid family as the villain in a forthcoming film. The reality is, even the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex has provided less than forty fossil specimens for palaeontologists to study and the vast majority of these are far from complete. The popularity of these fierce carnivores is easy to understand, they were certainly impressive beasts but scientists still have a great deal to learn about these animals, their ancestry, social behaviour and morphology.

Long-limbed Tyrannosaurs

The likes of Tyrannosaurus rex is synonymous with the Hell Creek Formation of Montana in the north-western United States. The exposed strata of sandstone, siltstone and mudstone represent sediment laid down towards the very end of the Cretaceous (Maastrichtian faunal stage). It was from these beds that the first T. rex fossils were unearthed. However, a greater number of Tyrannosauridae fossils have been recovered from Canada, specifically areas such as the Dinosaur Provincial Park Formation in Alberta.

The extensive outcrops of Campanian faunal stage strata from deposits termed the Belly River Group and the Judith River Formation have been dated to approximately seventy-five million years ago. The theropod fossils recovered from these sites along with other body and trace fossils have enabled palaeontologists to build up a detailed picture of the eco-system that existed in this area at the end of the Cretaceous. This has led to some speculation as to the hunting habits and specialisation of the tyrannosaurs in this faunal community.

The Albertosaurinae and the Tyrannosaurinae

Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurids of Alberta can be grouped into two sub-families, the Albertosaurinae and the Tyrannosaurinae (work from Phil Currie et al). The albertosaurines from the Dinosaur Provincial Park can be split into two genera, Albertosaurus and Gorgosaurus), the Tyrannosaurinae are represented by Daspletosaurus. In the 1970s the genus Gorgosaurus was dropped and it was synonymised with Albertosaurus, following a review of existing specimens where no significant characteristics were identified, permitting both genera to be valid. This viewpoint was overturned in 2003 when following a study by a Canadian led team looking at fossils recovered after the review in the early 1970s, a number of differences were identified between Gorgosaurus and Albertosaurus and so both taxa were validated.

Gorgosaurus was reinstated.

The Death Pose of a Canadian Tyrannosaur (Albertosaurus)

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture shows an almost complete and articulated restoration of an Albertosaurus specimen on display at the Royal Tyrrell museum (Canada). The neck and head presented in a curved position over the back and hips is typical of articulated Dinosauria fossils, this effect is believed to occur as ligaments and tendons are desiccated in the carcase and their drying out leads to the head and neck curving over the back of the animal.

Different Hunting Strategies

The albertosaurs shared their Late Cretaceous world with the likes of Daspletosaurus, (Daspletosaurus means “frightful lizard”). Both these types of tyrannosaur were predators and likely to have been at the top of the food chain, however, examination of their fossils reveals that they may have specialised in different hunting strategies and prey.

Albertosaurs had slightly shorter, lower skulls than many other tyrannosaurs. Their leg bones, especially the tibia (shin bone) were proportionately longer than equivalent sized tyrannosaurs. They had longer toes and although the weight of an adult Albertosaurus (A. sarcophagus), has been estimated at 2,500 kilograms, these animals were lighter than equivalent sized Tyrannosaurinae.

In recent years, scientists have concluded that there were two distinct clades of tyrannosaur in North America during the Late Cretaceous inhabiting the land mass known as Laramidia. The first clade, from the north (Canada) featured long-snouted forms such as Albertosaurus. The southern Laramidia group, the group that was to give rise to the most famous tyrannosaur of them all – T. rex (Utah, Montana, Wyoming etc). had more square, broader, box-like skulls. Scientists remain uncertain how these distinctions evolved.

Everything Dinosaur stocks a wide range of tyrannosaur models including several North American genera. To view the extensive range of dinosaur models in stock: Tyrannosaur and Other Dinosaur Models.

9 03, 2008

In Memory of Pioneering Mary – Mary Anning who died on this day in 1847

By Mike|2024-04-12T08:25:20+01:00March 9th, 2008|Famous Figures, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

In Memory of Mary – Mary Anning (May 21st 1799 to March 9th 1847)

A breakthrough in our understanding of the world around us – a eureka moment in science is a rare thing. More often than not scientific progress is made in small steps with scientists and researchers building upon the insights and work of others. Palaeontology like other sciences is no exception, after all, science is driven forward by ignorance, our desire to turn what we don’t know into what we do know.

Our thoughts today turn to Mary Anning, who died on this day in 1847. Mary was born on May 21st, 1799 in the town of Lyme Regis, Dorset. Her father was a carpenter. Although she had no formal education to speak of and she spent most of her life in poverty, Mary was a pioneer in the sciences of geology and palaeontology, her contribution to science is recognised throughout the world and she is one of only two scientists permitted to have a look-a-like walking the hallowed galleries of the Natural History museum in London.

Mary Anning

Mary is credited with the discovery of many ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and the first pterodactyl fossils (pterosaurs). Most of the fossils Mary collected were sold to institutions and private collections, but often no record was kept of her role in discoveries and scientific research.

Although she lacked a substantial formal education, she taught herself anatomy, animal morphology and scientific illustration. She made an immense contribution to the nascent sciences of palaeontology and geology, but much of her work was plagiarised and she was not given the recognition she deserved in her lifetime. As a woman and with a poor social status she was never accepted into the male dominated scientific community.

Towards the end of her life it was rumoured that Mary had taken to drink. Perhaps this was as a result of her struggle for recognition gradually wearing her down, but more likely Mary was drinking to dull the pain of breast cancer. In the mid 19th century, one of the few pain killers that could be afforded by the poor was alcohol. Although, weak and very ill, Mary continued to sell her “curiosities” from her fossil depot in Lyme Regis

News of her illness reached members of the Geological Society in London, William Buckland, the Dean of Westminster used his influence to raise a fund to help support her, but there was little he could do to prevent the inevitable outcome. She died in 1847, just a few weeks before her 48th birthday.

Mary is buried in the little Lyme Regis churchyard, part of which overlooks the bay. I am sure Mary would have appreciated this, as it was in the bay overlooked by the church that Mary earned her living searching for fossils amongst the land slips and mud slides of the cliffs.

The Grave of Mary Anning and Her Brother Joseph

Mary Anning’s grave at St Michael’s Church on the hill overlooking Lyme Regis

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The then President of the Geological Society – Henry de la Beche wrote a eulogy in her honour, a most unusual tribute as she was not a Fellow.

He wrote: “I cannot close this notice of our losses by death without adverting to that of one, who though not placed among even the easier classes of society, but who had to earn her daily bread by her labour, yet contributed by her talents and her untiring researches, in no small degree to our knowledge of the great Enalio-Saurians and other forms of gigantic life entombed in the vicinity of Lyme Regis.

Fellows raised funds for a stained-glass window in her honour at the parish church at Lyme Regis. The window depicts Mary tending the sick and looking after the poor, an inscription underneath reads: “In commemoration of her usefulness in furthering the science of geology, as also of her benevolence of heart and integrity of life”.

Perhaps the last word for now, about Mary should come from a reporter who wrote in a journal published at the time – “the carpenter’s daughter has won a name for herself, and deserved to win it”.

Good on you Mary, we will always remember.

The fossil discoveries made by Mary Anning has inspired the British-designed CollectA range of marine reptile models: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Models.

8 03, 2008

New Notes on Postosuchus

By Mike|2024-04-12T08:22:47+01:00March 8th, 2008|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Press Releases|0 Comments

Postosuchus kirkpatricki – Fierce Prehistoric Animal

Postosuchus (P. kirkpatricki) was a member of the Order Rauisuchia of reptiles. This Late Triassic predator whose fossilised remains have been found in Arizona, New Mexico, North Carolina and the state of Texas was made famous in 1999 when it appeared in the first episode of the ground breaking BBC documentary series “Walking with Dinosaurs”. The name Postosuchus means “after or post crocodile”, a reference to this extinct creature’s affinity with the crocodile family. The genus name also gives a nod towards Post Quarry, a fossil location close to the small town of Post in Garza County (Texas).

An Illustration of Postosuchus

Scale drawing of Postosuchus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Notes on Postosuchus

After this predator’s appearance on the television documentary series it has become one of the most popular non-Dinosaurian prehistoric animals known from the Triassic geological period amongst enthusiasts of all things Mesozoic.

Everything Dinosaur currently stocks the Postosuchus prehistoric animal model that is part of the Wild Safari Prehistoric World range of figures. To view this range: Wild Safari Prehistoric World Figures.

7 03, 2008

Suggestions for New Prehistoric Animal Models

By Mike|2022-11-10T11:40:18+00:00March 7th, 2008|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates|0 Comments

New Dinosaur Model Suggestions Sent into Everything Dinosaur

Amongst the many emails, feedback forms and letters received by Everything Dinosaur team members each day, we often get suggestions from dinosaur model fans about what new prehistoric animal models they would like manufacturers to make. We get two types of suggestion, ones aimed at certain manufacturers such as Papo, Collecta, Safari Ltd and so on and another type of suggestion that comprises a list of the sort of prehistoric animals that the person would like to see.

An example of the latter is an email received just the other morning which listed a top three of new prehistoric animal model suggestions:

1). Giganotosaurus dinosaur model

2). Saurophaganax

3). Dimetrodon with a bright red sail

Collecting Prehistoric Animal Model Suggestions

Part of the CollectA range of animal models.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Suggestions for Prehistoric Animal Models

We are grateful for all the dinosaur and prehistoric animal model suggestions that we receive. We can promise readers that they are all read and shared by our team members and we do submit product suggestions on behalf of readers to the model and figure makers.

To view Everything Dinosaur’s current range of dinosaur models etc: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

6 03, 2008

Friendly and Happy Stegosaurus Picture

By Mike|2024-04-12T08:26:24+01:00March 6th, 2008|Educational Activities, Teaching|0 Comments

A Colourful Picture of a Stegosaurus

Team members from Everything Dinosaur, the UK based dinosaur company staffed by parents, teachers and real dinosaur experts saw a very colourful drawing of a friendly Stegosaurus whilst on a school visit to teach about dinosaurs. The picture had been stuck up onto an outdoor white board in the nursery play area so that the young nursery and reception aged children could also get involved with the dinosaur workshop in school that had been planned for the day.

A Drawing of a Friendly Stegosaurus

A friendly “plated lizard” – a friendly Stegosaurus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Friendly Stegosaurus

This dinosaur certainly looks quite friendly, he has a big smile on his face. We are sure the children enjoyed learning all about dinosaurs and fossils and drawing pictures of colourful, friendly dinosaurs as part of the dinosaur teaching activities in school.

To see the dinosaur themed products in stock: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

5 03, 2008

Dinosaur Jokes are Great Fun!

By Mike|2024-04-12T08:26:52+01:00March 5th, 2008|Educational Activities, Teaching|0 Comments

Jokes About Dinosaurs

Whilst delivering dinosaur workshops in school, team members at Everything Dinosaur get told jokes about dinosaurs from the school children that they meet. Here are a selection of dinosaur jokes that Everything Dinosaur team members came across recently whilst teaching about prehistoric animals in school.

Q. Why did the dinosaur cross the road?

A. Because chickens had not evolved yet!

Q. Why do museums have old dinosaur bones on show?

A. Because they can’t afford to buy new dinosaur bones!

Q. What do you call two dinosaurs bumping into each other?

A. Tyrannosaurus wrecks!

Q. What do you call a Tyrannosaurus rex with a machine gun?

A. Sir!

Q. What do you call a dinosaur that sat on a drawing pin?

A. A Mega-sore-ass!

Q. Why did Archaeopteryx catch the worm?

A. Because it was an early bird!

Dinosaurs as a term topic for Key Stage 1 or 2 children can help them develop their vocabularies, enthuse them about reading as well as to encourage them to write creatively. When Everything Dinosaur delivers a dinosaur workshop in school, lots of ideas for extension activities follow, as for the children’s jokes, we appreciate them and we are glad to help out in schools.

To learn more about Everything Dinosaur: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

4 03, 2008

Long-limbed Albertosaurs – a Clue to Dinosaur Predation

By Mike|2022-11-10T11:32:45+00:00March 4th, 2008|Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Long-limbed Albertosaurs – possible hints at Dinosaur Hunting Habits

Despite their frequent appearance in monster movies the Tyrannosauridae are perhaps not as well known as many people might think, especially when they are faced with the overwhelming number of tyrannosaur exhibits on display at Natural History museums. In truth, even the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex has provided less than 40 fossil specimens for palaeontologists to study and the vast majority of these are far from complete. The popularity of these fierce carnivores is easy to understand, they were certainly impressive beasts but scientists still have a great deal to learn about these animals, their ancestry, social behaviour and morphology.

The likes of Tyrannosaurus rex is synonymous with the Hell Creek Formation of Montana in the north western United States. The exposed strata of sandstone, siltstone and mudstone represent sediment laid down towards the very end of the Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian faunal stage). It was from these beds that the first T. rex fossils were unearthed. However, a greater number of Tyrannosauridae fossils have been recovered from Canada, specifically areas such as the Dinosaur Provincial Park Formation in Alberta. The extensive outcrops of Campanian faunal stage strata from deposits termed the Belly River Group and the Judith River Formation have been dated to approximately 75 million years ago. The Theropod fossils recovered from these sites along with other body and trace fossils have enabled palaeontologists to build up a detailed picture of the eco-system that existed in this area at the end of the Cretaceous. This has led to some speculation as to the hunting habits and specialisation of the tyrannosaurs in this faunal community.

Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurids of Alberta can be classified into two sub-families, the Albertosaurinae and the Tyrannosaurinae (based on research from Phil Currie et al). The albertosaurines from the Dinosaur Provincial Park can be split into two genera, Gorgosaurus and Albertosaurus), the Tyrannosaurinae are represented by Daspletosaurus (D. torosus [Russell 1970], D horneri [Carr et al 2017]). In the 1970s the genus Gorgosaurus was dropped and it was synonymised with Albertosaurus, following a review of existing specimens where no significant characteristics were identified, permitting both genera to be valid. This viewpoint was overturned in 2003 when following a study by a Canadian led team looking at fossils recovered after the review in the early 1970s, several anatomical differences were identified between Albertosaurus and Gorgosaurus and so both taxa were validated. The Gorgosaurus genus was reinstated.

Albertosaurus Exhibit – Royal Tyrrell Museum (Alberta in Canada)

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The photograph shows an almost complete and articulated restoration of an Albertosaurus specimen on display at the Royal Tyrrell museum (Alberta, Canada). The neck and head presented in a curved position over the back and hips is typical of articulated Dinosauria fossils, this effect is believed to occur as ligaments and tendons are desiccated in the carcase and their drying out leads to the head and neck curving over the back of the animal.

The albertosaurs shared their Late Cretaceous world with the likes of Daspletosaurus, (Daspletosaurus means “frightful lizard”). Both these types of tyrannosaur were apex predators, hypercarnivores and at the top of the food chain, however, examination of their fossils reveals that they may have specialised in different hunting strategies and prey.

Albertosaurs had shorter, lower skulls than many other tyrannosaurs. Their leg bones, especially the tibia (shin bone) were proportionately longer than equivalent sized tyrannosaurs. They had longer toes and although the weight of an adult Albertosaurus (A. sarcophagus), has been estimated at 2.5 metric tonnes, these animals were lighter than equivalent sized Tyrannosaurinae.

A 1:40 Scale Model of Albertosaurus (Carnegie Collection Albertosaurus)

Albertosaurus (from the now retired [2014] Carnegie Collectibles range of figures).

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture above shows an Albertosaurus dinosaur model, part of the Carnegie Collectibles dinosaur model range (Safari Ltd) which has been retired and is out of production.

To see this model and other tyrannosaurid figures: Visit Everything Dinosaur’s Shop.

The Albertosaurus Genus

It has been speculated that the genus Albertosaurus may represent the fastest large tyrannosaurs around at the end of the Cretaceous. Models and computer simulations have estimated running speeds of up to 25mph (40kmh), this is up to 50% faster than an equivalent member of the sub-family Tyrannosaurinae. Putting this into perspective this long-limbed, long-toed carnivore could complete the 100 metres in around about 10 seconds. Assuming that an Albertosaurus could be given a running start (crossing the start line at approximately full speed), and assuming that this fierce meat-eater did not stop along the way to feast on any athletes, an Albertosaurus could compete for a medal in the sprints at the Beijing Olympics.

Some scientists have speculated that tyrannosaurs began to evolve in different ways, exploiting specific niches within the eco-system. As Albertosaurus was lighter and faster than equivalent sized Tyrannosaurinae, it could have specialised in catching lighter and faster prey types like hadrosaurs, pachycephalosaurs and ornithomimids. Indeed, a diorama of an Albertosaurus chasing a group of ostrich-like dinosaurs greets visitors to the Royal Tyrrell museum. The heavier members of Tyrannosaurinae may have specialised in hunting ceratopsians or possibly titanosaurs.

Lighter and More Gracile Tyrannosaurs

Fossil evidence does indicate that the albertosaurs evolved into lighter and more gracile forms, perhaps indicating that this genus specialised in hunting faster moving animals than the heavier predators.

The fossil evidence is complicated when social behaviour is considered. Albertosaurus bone-beds have been found in Canada. Excavations from Royal Tyrrell museum staff have revealed the remains of at least nine variously sized albertosaurs from one fossil site. Could this be evidence of pack behaviour?

The Safari Carnegie model of Albertosaurus (shown in the picture above) has been designed to replicate much of the latest scientific thinking concerning this particular dinosaur. Working on the guidance of scientists from the Carnegie museum the model has been sculpted to show the long legs and graceful features of this predator. The colouration of the model, muted greys and browns would have make this hunter inconspicuous in shadow and the dappled understorey of woodland. The back, tail and hind quarters of this particular model has darker, stripped markings, again helping to camouflage the animal and break up its outline if it was stalking from cover. In addition, the stripped markings, particularly those on the tail are a concession towards those scientists that speculate that Albertosaurus may have been a social, pack hunter. A group of these animals moving towards a potential group of prey animals at speed would have been a confusing site. Their rapid speed, the dust kicked up and the stripped markings could have disorientated prey, the stripes helping to break up the outline of individual hunters within the pack as they closed in on their unfortunate victims.