{
  "id": 13392939,
  "title": "University of Alberta researchers find evidence raptor may have fed on apex predator",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/university-of-alberta-researchers-find-evidence-raptor-may-have-fed",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-10T11:00:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Global News",
    "slug": "global-news",
    "url": "https://globalnews.ca/news/12097941/alberta-researchers-raptor-fed-on-tyrannosaur/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Researchers at the University of Alberta have unearthed what may be the earliest evidence of a small raptor preying on a larger tyrannosaur, shedding light on the feeding habits of dinosaurs from millions of years ago. The discovery stems from distinctive bite marks observed on the jawbone of an Albertosaurus, an apex predator akin to Tyrannosaurus rex that inhabited present-day Alberta during the Late Cretaceous period.\n\nJoshua Doyon, a University of Alberta paleontology master's student, uncovered these marks, suggesting that an eight-year-old Albertosaurus likely succumbed to unknown causes and was subsequently consumed by a raptor, or dromaeosaurid, shortly after its demise. This is the first documented instance of a raptor feeding or scavenging on a tyrannosaur.\n\nDoyon explained that by comparing the spacing between the bite marks on the fossil with the spacing between the teeth of carnivorous dinosaurs that coexisted alongside Albertosaurus, the team could narrow down the potential predators. The most probable culprit is a raptor, though another, less likely explanation is a juvenile Albertosaurus, which would imply cannibalism. If the latter were true, the juvenile dinosaur would have been approximately two meters long and consumed a larger sub-adult Albertosaurus, which is estimated to have measured six meters in length and weighed around 530 kilograms.\n\nPhilip Currie, a University of Alberta professor of dinosaur paleobiology and Doyon's supervisor, emphasized that evidence of one carnivorous dinosaur preying on another is rare, making this discovery particularly noteworthy. The Albertosaurus specimen, comprising scattered skull fragments, was discovered north of Drumheller in Alberta's badlands by a member of the public in 2022 and was subsequently collected and prepared by the Royal Tyrrell Museum.\n\nUpon further analysis, technicians at the museum suspected tooth marks, which were then forwarded to the University of Alberta for additional examination. No signs of healing were found around the marks, indicating they were made around the time of the Albertosaurus's death or shortly thereafter, and were a direct result of feeding or scavenging.\n\nCurrie highlighted that examining such details can help researchers gain insights into dinosaur biology, while Doyon noted that the discovery could enhance our understanding of feeding interactions within the prehistoric ecosystem. \"That might lead us to a better understanding of the interactions and who was eating who in that ecosystem,\" Doyon concluded.",
  "summary": "University of Alberta researchers say bite marks on an Albertosaurus found near Drumheller could be the first evidence of a small raptor feeding on a tyrannosaur.",
  "key_points": [
    "Eight-year-old Albertosaurus likely died from unknown causes.",
    "Bite marks on jawbone suggest raptor or dromaeosaurid fed on it.",
    "Discovery provides first evidence of raptor preying on tyrannosaur."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}