Raptor likely scavenged dead Albertosaurus in Alberta badlands
Source: Global News · All Global News reports
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Topics in this report
Summary
Global News reported on a 2022 fossil discovery north of Drumheller, Alberta: jaw fragments from an immature Albertosaurus sarcophagus bearing unhealed tooth marks. The specimen was prepared at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, which noticed the marks and sent it to the University of Alberta. Master's student Joshua Doyon led a 2023 project measuring tooth-mark and denticle spacing, comparing it to coexisting carnivores. The broadcast outlined two scenarios: most likely a dromaeosaurid (raptor) scavenger, less likely a very young Albertosaurus cannibal. Philip Currie and others emphasized its rarity as evidence of carnivore-on-carnivore feeding in the Late Cretaceous ecosystem.
Editorial Assessment
The segment accurately conveys the primary conclusions of the peer-reviewed study published days earlier. It correctly notes the 2022 discovery, 2023 research start, spacing-comparison method, lack of healing (indicating post-mortem scavenging), and the two hypotheses with the raptor as favored. Viewers receive a clear sense of the find's significance for understanding ancient food webs. Minor omissions include the precise specimen number (TMP 2022.007.0040), the novel rake-angle correction method, and that the animal was ~6 m long and 8-10 years old at death. The enthusiastic tone ('jaw-dropping', 'every kid dreams') is typical for science outreach and does not distort facts. Overall high-quality, well-sourced popular reporting of new primary research.
Key Moments
Tooth marks on Albertosaurus jawbone from a bite soon after death 70 million years ago
Matches paper: unhealed marks on mandible of ~8-10 year old individual from Horseshoe Canyon Formation; no healing confirms peri- or post-mortem.
Most likely culprit is a dromaeosaur (raptor) based on tooth-mark spacing
Primary conclusion of Doyon et al. (2026) in Journal of Paleontology after comparing corrected inter-denticle spacing; first documented dromaeosaurid scavenging tyrannosaurid.
Less likely a baby Albertosaurus cannibalized it
Explicitly presented as alternative hypothesis in the paper and news coverage; statistical comparison makes it less probable but not fully ruled out.
Specimen found 2022 in Alberta badlands north of Drumheller, prepared by Royal Tyrrell, analyzed at U of A
Consistent across Royal Tyrrell blog, CBC, Edmonton Journal, and the scientific paper.
Rare evidence of carnivore eating another carnivore, reveals ecosystem interactions
Direct quotes from Currie and Doyon; paper frames it as expanding knowledge of dromaeosaurid diet and theropod interactions.
Sources Consulted
- Evidence for dromaeosaurid scavenging on Albertosaurus (Dinosauria: Tyrannosauridae)
- Fossil researchers believe dog-sized raptor may have fed on larger tyrannosaur
- Alberta researchers make jaw-dropping dinosaur discovery
- First Fossil Evidence of ‘Raptors’ Feeding on a Tyrannosaur
- University of Alberta researchers unearth new dinosaur diet discovery