{
  "id": 177114,
  "title": "Did T. rex leave these 66-million-year-old bite marks?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/did-t-rex-leave-these-66-million-year-old-bite-marks",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-05T03:15:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ScienceDaily",
    "slug": "sciencedaily",
    "url": "https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260803080854.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Fossilized dinosaur bones discovered in Wyoming bear tooth marks that were likely created by Tyrannosaurus rex, according to a study published in July 2026 in the open-access journal PLOS One. The research, led by Bethania C. T. Siviero from Loma Linda University, examined several kinds of depressions, punctures, holes, and grooves found on fossil bones. To help interpret possible tooth marks on fossils, the team created a guide based on their findings and earlier research. Over 3,000 bones collected in northeastern Wyoming, dating back to the late Cretaceous period around 72 to 66 million years ago, were analyzed. Most of the bones belonged to Edmontosaurus annectens, a large herbivorous dinosaur with a broad, duck-shaped bill. Only 12 bones displayed possible tooth traces, with four showing distinctive patterns matching the shape and spacing of T. rex teeth. The researchers concluded that T. rex was the most likely source of those marks. Other damaged bones might have been bitten by different predators or scavengers, such as other carnivorous dinosaurs and crocodilians. Most marked bones showed no signs of healed surrounding tissue, indicating that the bites occurred close to or after the animals' death. The study emphasizes the importance of correctly identifying tooth marks, as other features like disease, insects, weathering, and erosion can create similar bone modifications. Properly distinguishing between these possibilities is crucial for reconstructing prehistoric behavior and ecological relationships.",
  "summary": "Fossilized dinosaur bones from Wyoming are offering a rare glimpse into the feeding behavior of Tyrannosaurus rex. Researchers examined more than 3,000 bones dating back 72 to 66 million years and found just 12 with possible tooth traces, including four with patterns that closely matched the shape and spacing of T. rex teeth.",
  "key_points": [],
  "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."
}