Researchers examining over 3,000 fossilized dinosaur bones from a single quarry in Wyoming have identified only 12 bones with unambiguous tooth marks, and just four of those could be attributed to Tyrannosaurus rex, according to a study published in the journal PeerJ on July 15, 2026.
The study, led by paleontologist Dr. Joseph Peterson of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, analyzed bones from the Lance Formation, a Late Cretaceous site in eastern Wyoming. The team used 3D scanning and microscopic analysis to distinguish genuine bite marks from other damage. One bone, a hadrosaur vertebra, showed a distinctive pattern of punctures and gouges consistent with T. rex feeding behavior.
βFinding any T. rex tooth marks is rare, but to have four confirmed examples from a single site is remarkable,β Peterson said in a statement. The marks provide direct evidence of T. rex scavenging or predation, offering insights into its role in the ecosystem.
The findings highlight the scarcity of direct feeding traces in the fossil record, as most bones show no signs of predation. The study was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Geological Society of America.
