How come from a familia of one of the most famous dinosaurs and not so famous? Such is the case with Gorgosaurus, which comes from the genus of Tyrannosaurus familia. Therefore, these reptiles follow almost the same habits and behavior as the T-rex. However, this genus of carnivorous theropod dinosaurs lived approximately 76-68 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. Scientists predicted by studying Gorgosaurus fossils that these predators used to have an estimated length of 8-9 meters (26-30 feet) and a weight of around 2.5-3.5 tons. It had a large head with powerful jaws, sharp teeth, and binocular vision, which would have made it an effective predator.
Gorgosaurus lived around the basin and green delta along the edge of an Inland sea. These apex predators hunt abundant Ceratopsids and Hadrosaurs for their food. They majorly coexisted with other variations of Tyrannosaurid and Daspletosaurus torosus. These reptiles were first predicted by the renowned Canadian paleontologist Lawrence Lambe in 1914. The further discovery of Gorgosaurus fossils led to the niche differentiation between the members of their familia. Gorgosaurus are studied along the dozens of specimens of Tyrannosaurid in the paleontologist record. These plentiful remains have allowed scientists to further investigate the various aspects of their biology.
Quick Facts About The Gorgosaurus
- Gorgosaurus was a theropod member of the Tyrannosauridae family that has the apex predator like Tyrannosaurus Rex.
- Gorgosaurus lived around 75 million years ago, in the Late Cretaceous period, and used to have two powerful hind legs with short arms.
- Gorgosaurus was among the gigantic reptiles that grew up to to 9m (30 ft.) in length and weighed around 2.5 metric tonnes.
- There are more Gorgosaurus fossils that have been found than any other Tyrannosaurid, while most of them were found at the Dinosaur Park formation in Alberta, Canada.
- Gorgosaurus spend most of their life in the juvenile stage before undergoing a fully flourished exponential growth to reach adulthood.
The Detailed Anatomy Of The Gorgosaurus
The discovery of Gorgosaurus leads to the development of the Albertosaurine genera. It solves the missing link of the Tyrannosaurid. One of the most famous American paleontologists, Thomas Holtz, published a paper on phylogenetic analysis in 2004 that established its relation with Daspletosaurus, Tarbosaurus and Tyrannosaurus. The skull of Gorgosaurus was a key feature of its anatomy. Like other Tyrannosaurids, it was large and heavy, with a long, low profile that helped distribute the skull's weight and balance it on the neck. The skull was also highly specialized for hunting, with a wide, U-shaped snout that could deliver a powerful bite to prey. The jaws were lined with large, sharp, serrated teeth designed to slice through flesh and bone. Moreover, the Gorgosaurus fossils teeth were constantly replaced throughout the dinosaur's life, a feature shared by most theropods.
Gorgosaurus, like other tyrannosaurids, had short arms that were relatively weak compared to the rest of its body. The arms were only about one-third the length of the hind legs. Also, the claw was not strong enough to end in two-fingered hands for grasping the prey. Despite this apparent limitation, it is thought that the arms and hands of Tyrannosaurids may have played a role in mating displays or in helping to balance the dinosaur while it ran.
The legs and feet of the Gorgosaurus were highly specialized for running and hunting. The hind legs were long and powerful, with a thick thigh femur and a strong knee joint that allowed the dinosaur to run at high speeds. Besides that, the feet had three toes that were equipped with sharp claws, which were used to grip the ground and provide traction while running. After reading the Gorgosaurus fossils, the scientist speculated that the first toe was shorter than the other two and didn't touch the ground, likely because it was used to support the dinosaur's weight when standing still.
While we don't have any direct evidence of the skin of Gorgosaurus. It is thought to have had scaly skin that was covered in feathers in some areas. Recent discoveries of feathered dinosaurs from the same time period and geographic region as Gorgosaurus suggest that many theropods, including tyrannosaurids, had feathers or feather-like structures. However, it's also possible that Gorgosaurus had a scaly skin texture more like that of modern-day crocodiles.
After the detailed study of the Gorgosaurus fossils, the tail was long and flexible and served multiple purposes. First, it was used for balance while the dinosaur ran. As the tail swung back and forth, it helped to counterbalance the weight of the heavy head and neck. Second, the tail was used as a counterweight while the dinosaur made quick turns or abrupt stops. Finally, the tail was a defensive weapon that could be swung at predators or prey to knock them off balance.
The Teeth Structure Of The Gorgosaurus
The Gorgosaurus fossils teeth were long, curved, and blade-like, with serrated edges that allowed them to easily slice through flesh and bone. The teeth were highly specialized for hunting and were adapted to the specific types of prey that Gorgosaurus would have encountered in its environment. After thorough research, it has been found that The teeth of Gorgosaurus were quite large, with the longest teeth measuring up to 10 centimeters (4 inches) in length. The teeth on the front were larger and more pointed, while the teeth towards the back of the mouth were smaller and more rounded.
Like other tyrannosaurids, Gorgosaurus had a relatively small number of teeth in its mouth at any given time. Adult specimens had around 50 to 60 teeth, which were constantly being replaced throughout the dinosaur's life as they were worn down or lost. Further, the new teeth would grow in behind the old ones and gradually push them out, a process known as a dental replacement. The serrations were not uniform but varied in size and shape along the tooth length. They were also oriented at an angle towards the tip of the tooth, which would have allowed the tooth to slice through prey more efficiently.
Behavior Of The Gorgosaurus
Like other tyrannosaurids, Gorgosaurus was likely an apex predator that actively hunted its prey. Gorgosaurus likely used its strong sense of smell and keen eyesight to locate potential prey and then relied on its speed and agility to close in for the kill. While it's not entirely clear whether Gorgosaurus was a solitary hunter or engaged in social behavior, some evidence suggests that it may have lived and hunted in groups. Gorgosaurus fossils footprints attributed to tyrannosaurids have been found in some locations, suggesting that these animals may have traveled together or even hunted in packs.
Gorgosaurus was a carnivore that likely fed on a variety of prey, including other dinosaurs, small mammals, and possibly even some aquatic animals. Like other theropods, Gorgosaurus would have swallowed its food whole, using its muscular throat to move the food down into its stomach.
Paleoecology Of The Gorgosaurus
The paleoecology of Gorgosaurus is the study of the dinosaur's interactions with its environment, including its physical surroundings, the other animals it lived with, and the overall ecological context in which it existed. While much of this is speculative and based on limited Gorgosaurus fossils evidence, scientists have been able to make some educated guesses based on what is known about the dinosaur's anatomy, distribution, and the geological history of its habitat.
Gorgosaurus lived in what is now western North America, primarily in what is now Alberta and Montana. During the Late Cretaceous period, this region was characterized by a warm and humid climate, with dense forests and a variety of rivers, lakes, and swamps. Gorgosaurus likely lived in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and river valleys. It is likely that Gorgosaurus was a top predator in its environment, with few natural enemies. While there is limited direct evidence of how these animals interacted with one another, it is likely that they competed for resources and that there may have been some level of predation between them.
Extinction Event Of The Gorgosaurus
Gorgosaurus and other dinosaurs went extinct approximately 66 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous period. The exact cause of the extinction event is still a subject of scientific debate. However, it is likely a combination of factors that includes climate change. One supporting theory says all the major Tyrannosaurus, including Gorgosaurus, died from the deadly impact of the Chicxulub crater.
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Reference: https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2022/jul/06/gorgosaurus-dinosaur-skeleton-tipped-to-fetch-8-million-at-new-york-auction-2473628.html