A 75-million-year-old fossil reveals a shocking tyrannosaur secret
A 75-million-year-old fossil reveals a shocking tyrannosaur secret | ScienceDaily Science News from research organizations A 75-million-year-old fossil reveals a shocking tyrannosaur secret Even mighty tyrannosaurs didn’t waste a meal—new evidence shows they scavenged the remains of their own kind. Date: May 5, 2026 Source: Aarhus University Summary: Tyrannosaurs may be famous as fearsome apex predators, but new research reveals a more opportunistic—and slightly grim—side to their behavior. Using high-resolution 3D scans, a researcher identified precise bite marks on a massive tyrannosaur foot bone, showing that a smaller tyrannosaur had fed on the remains of a much larger relative over 75 million years ago. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY Visualization of a tyrannosaur scavenging on a larger conspecific. Credit: Josephine Nielsen, Aarhus University Tyrannosaurs are usually depicted as powerful, relentless predators. However, new research shows they also took advantage of opportunities to scavenge. When food was available, they did not hesitate to feed on the remains of dead animals, even down to the last scraps. This finding comes from a study by the Department of Geoscience at Aarhus University, recently published in the journal Evolving Earth . Fossil Bite Marks Reveal Cannibal Feeding The research was led by Josephine Nielsen, a Master's student in geoscience. She used advanced 3D scanning techniques to examine a fossilized metatarsal (foot bone) that belonged to a large tyrannosaur more than 75 million years ago. Her analysis uncovered 16 distinct bite marks on the bone. "I have analyzed the depth, angle, and placement of the marks in a virtual 3D environment and can document that these bite marks did not occur by chance. They are precise impressions from the teeth of a smaller tyrannosaur that fed on a much larger relative," says Josephine Nielsen. The results suggest that tyrannosaurs did not let resources go to waste. Ev
Solid reporting. Keep these coming.
Adding my 2 cents — great post.
Interesting perspective. Wonder what others think?
I was really surprised to learn that a tyrannosaur had feathers! I had no idea they could be so well-preserved, especially from something that old. It's incredible how much we're still discovering about these creatures.
I found it fascinating that the fossil showed evidence of a tyrannosaur having feathers. It completely changes how I think about these dinosaurs.