About Albertosaurus
| Scientific Name (Genus) | Albertosaurus |
| Meaning of Name | Alberta (Canadian province) lizard Alberta [place name] - saurus (lizard) [Greek] |
| Classification | Saurischia, Theropoda, Tyrannosauridae, Albertosaurinae |
| Total Length | Approx. 9m |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous (approx. 70 million years ago) |
| Species Name | Albertosaurus sarcophagus |
| Year of Paper Publication | 1905 |
| Genus Name Publication | Osborn, H. F. (1905). Tyrannosaurus and other Cretaceous carnivorous dinosaurs. Bulletin of the AMNH, 21(14), 259-265. |
Tyrannosaurus's Agile Relative
Albertosaurus is a large carnivorous dinosaur from the Tyrannosauridae family, a close relative of the famous Tyrannosaurus rex. It appeared several million years before Tyrannosaurus and reigned as the apex predator of its time.
Compared to Tyrannosaurus, Albertosaurus had a generally lighter and more slender build. Its hind legs were particularly long, making up a larger proportion of its body weight, which suggests it was more agile and could run faster than Tyrannosaurus. This difference in physique likely influenced its hunting style, indicating it may have been a hunter that relied more on mobility.
The Mystery of the Pack and the Growth Trajectory
The key to understanding the ecology of Albertosaurus lies in the "Dry Island Bonebed" discovered in Alberta, Canada. This remarkable fossil site yielded the remains of more than 26 Albertosaurus individuals of different ages, all found together. This discovery suggests two major possibilities about their behavior.
One is the possibility that they lived in groups. The fact that individuals of various ages were found together strongly suggests that Albertosaurus formed packs, possibly consisting of family members, rather than living solitarily. According to the "pack hunting theory," they may have engaged in sophisticated cooperative hunting, where younger individuals would chase prey towards older, more powerful members who would deliver the final blow.
Another significant outcome is the elucidation of their growth process. Thanks to the collection of bones from various age groups, scientists have been able to trace their life cycle through growth lines in the bones. Studies show that an individual that was about 2 meters long and weighed 50 kg at age two would experience a rapid "growth spurt" in its teens (around 12-16 years old), gaining over 120 kg per year. It is estimated that they reached adulthood before the age of 20 and lived for about 30 years.
Habitat and Prey
During the Late Cretaceous, western North America, where Albertosaurus lived, had a vast inland sea, and its coastal areas had a warm, humid climate. The landscape was characterized by extensive floodplains and forests, creating a rich environment inhabited by a diverse range of dinosaurs.
In this environment, Albertosaurus reigned as the apex predator, primarily preying on hadrosaurs (like Edmontosaurus). By hunting in packs, they might have also been able to take down larger prey, such as ceratopsians.
Albertosaurus Stamp & Fossil Gallery
