DoubleChecks

What was claimed

Bunch of Edmontosaurus have weird tyrannosaur bite marks at different angles suggesting the predator systematically dismantled the tail for specific 'cuts' of meat

Our verdict

Needs caution

While bite marks show selective feeding targeting meaty areas, the research does not describe systematic dismantling with angle-varied butchering. The evidence suggests opportunistic feeding behavior rather than deliberate butchering strategy. Researchers suggest feeding on fleshy areas of the skull, but that is not evidence of deliberate selection of modern-style cuts of meat.

Combined assessment16 sourcesChecked Oct 14, 2026

Why this verdict

  • Those bite marks suggest the predator systematically dismantled the tail for specific 'cuts' of meat.

    Incorrect
    One assessment reached this conclusion; one differed·ChatGPT: Misleading

  • The predator targeted specific cuts of meat.

    Misleading
    One assessment reached this conclusion

  • Bite marks are at different angles suggesting systematic dismantling for specific cuts

    Can’t verify
    One assessment reached this conclusion; one differed·Claude: Misleading

  • Multiple Edmontosaurus specimens show tyrannosaur bite marks on their tails at varying angles.

    Verified
    All assessments reached this conclusion

Evidence reviewed

16 sources

Perplexity, Claude and ChatGPT sources are combined here.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govdino-tail.comnationalgeographic.comausthrutime.comyahoo.comwww-26.blm.govpopsci.comsciencealert.compopsci.comyahoo.com

Individual assessments

Assessment summary

The sources support tyrannosaur bite marks on Edmontosaurus and evidence of feeding or possible predation.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov nationalgeographic.com They do not support the specific claim that multiple angled marks show systematic tail dismantling for particular cuts of meat; the documented specimen involves the skull, not the tail.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov sciencealert.com

Claims reviewed

The marks show that a tyrannosaur systematically dismantled the tail.

Incorrect
The relevant documented specimen concerns a Tyrannosaurus tooth embedded in an Edmontosaurus snout, with additional marks on the skull and jaws. The sources do not report systematic tail dismemberment.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov sciencealert.com

This claim may mislead readers without added context.

The predator targeted specific cuts of meat.

Misleading
Researchers suggest feeding on fleshy areas of the skull, but that is not evidence of deliberate selection of modern-style cuts of meat.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov sciencealert.com

This claim may mislead readers without added context.

The bite marks occur at different angles.

Can’t verify
The available reports describe marks in different skull locations and orientations, but do not establish the specific pattern described in the claim.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov sciencealert.com

Assessment summary

  • The claim contains some factual elements—Edmontosaurus fossils do show tyrannosaur bite marks, including on tails.
  • However, the specific characterization of "systematic dismantling" with bites "at different angles" suggesting deliberate butchering for specific cuts is not supported by available scientific evidence.
  • The research shows selective feeding behavior targeting meaty areas, but not the sophisticated, angle-varied pattern implied.

Claims reviewed

Bite marks are at different angles suggesting systematic dismantling for specific cuts

Misleading
While bite marks show selective feeding targeting meaty areas, the research does not describe systematic dismantling with angle-varied butchering. The evidence suggests opportunistic feeding behavior rather than deliberate butchering strategy fossilcrates.com blog.everythingdinosaur.com sciencealert.com sci.news.

This claim may mislead readers without added context.

Edmontosaurus fossils have tyrannosaur bite marks

Verified
Multiple sources confirm numerous Edmontosaurus specimens show Tyrannosaurus bite marks on various bones including tails fossilcrates.com blog.everythingdinosaur.com sciencealert.com.

Bite marks appear on Edmontosaurus tails

Verified
Evidence shows tail bones with bite marks, including one specimen with a bite shearing off the tops of 4 tail bones sciencealert.com.

Assessment summary

  • Multiple Edmontosaurus specimens do preserve tyrannosaur-like bite marks on tail and other elements, and researchers have measured orientations of some tail marks journals.plos.org palaeo-electronica.org.
  • However, the leap that tyrannosaurs were "systematically dismantling the tail for specific 'cuts' of meat" is an interpretive claim not strongly supported by direct evidence and is debated in the literature journals.plos.org ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
  • Both facts and interpretation are mixed, so the statement is partially accurate but also misleading.

Claims reviewed

Those bite marks suggest the predator systematically dismantled the tail for specific 'cuts' of meat.

Misleading
While bite-mark patterns can indicate feeding behaviour (scavenging vs predation, locations bitten), there is not strong, direct evidence that tyrannosaurs executed a repeatable, systematic strategy to remove tail 'cuts' as if butchering; this interpretation is plausible but not proven and is debated. journals.plos.org ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This claim may mislead readers without added context.

Multiple Edmontosaurus specimens show tyrannosaur bite marks on their tails at varying angles.

Verified
Published studies document bite marks on Edmontosaurus tails and describe measuring the trajectories/angles of elongate furrows and other marks attributable to large theropods like Tyrannosaurus. journals.plos.org palaeo-electronica.org

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