Bite Marks on 66-Million-Year-Old Bones May Point to T. rex
Twelve clues among thousands of bones
In Wyoming, researchers examined more than 3,000 dinosaur bones dated to between 72 and 66 million years ago, near the very end of the age of dinosaurs. Among all those bones, only 12 showed marks that looked like they came from teeth.
Of those 12, four stood out: the shape and spacing of the marks closely matched the pattern expected from Tyrannosaurus rex teeth. That similarity is what has researchers paying close attention.
Why bite marks matter
Fossilized bones rarely reveal what an animal actually ate. Tooth marks are one of the few direct clues available, since their depth, spacing, and shape can hint at the size and strength of the jaw that made them.
Finding clear marks on just 12 out of more than 3,000 bones shows how rare this kind of evidence is to begin with — most marks get erased over millions of years by weathering, erosion, or burial. Finding several candidates together, as in this case, is unusual.
Still an open question
Researchers have not confirmed that T. rex made these marks — only that the pattern is consistent with its teeth. Further analysis is planned. Even so, the find offers a rare, direct clue about how one of the largest predators of its time may have interacted with the bones it left behind.
Tooth Marks Found on 66-Million-Year-Old Bones
📰 Full story: Bite Marks on 66-Million-Year-Old Bones May Point to T. rex
Scientists found bite-shaped marks on ancient dinosaur bones from Wyoming.
💡 The gist
- Scientists checked over 3,000 dinosaur bones
- 12 of them had marks that looked like bite marks
- 4 marks closely matched T. rex teeth
Dinosaur bones can teach us a lot about the past. Scientists in Wyoming looked at more than 3,000 bones that are between 72 and 66 million years old. That means these bones are from right before dinosaurs disappeared.
Out of all those bones, only 12 had clear marks that looked like they were made by teeth. That is a very small number. Bite marks are hard to find on old bones because wind, water, and time usually wear them away.
Four of the 12 marks were extra interesting. Their shape and spacing matched what scientists would expect from Tyrannosaurus rex teeth. That is why researchers think T. rex might be the one who left these marks.
Scientists are not saying it is definitely T. rex yet. They are still studying the marks carefully. But this discovery gives them a rare, direct clue about how this powerful predator may have used its teeth long ago.
Teeth Marks on Old Dinosaur Bones
📰 Full story: Bite Marks on 66-Million-Year-Old Bones May Point to T. rex
Scientists found bite marks on very old dinosaur bones.
Scientists looked at lots of old dinosaur bones. More than 3,000 of them!
Only 12 bones had marks that looked like teeth bit them.
Four of those marks looked just like T. rex teeth. T. rex had big, strong teeth.
Scientists do not know for sure yet. They think it might be T. rex. They are still looking closely.
Bones cannot tell us what dinosaurs ate just by looking. But bite marks like these help scientists guess.