Albertosaurus fossil map
Where fossils of Albertosaurus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 75 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 75 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Theropods |
|---|---|
| Lived | 85.7–66 million years ago (Santonian to Maastrichtian) |
| Periods | Cretaceous |
| Family | Tyrannosauridae |
| Named by | Osborn 1905 |
| Fossil records | 32 occurrences at 30 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Canada, United States, Mexico |
| Rock formations | Horseshoe Canyon, Judith River, txn:38606, Corral de Enmedio, Scollard, Lance |
About Albertosaurus
Albertosaurus (; meaning "Alberta lizard") is a genus of large tyrannosaurid dinosaur that lived in northwestern North America during the Latest Campanian to middle Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous period, about 71 million years ago. The type species, A. sarcophagus, was apparently restricted in range to the modern-day Canadian province of Alberta, after which the genus is named, although an indeterminate species ("cf. Albertosaurus sp.") has been discovered in the Corral de Enmedio and Packard Formations of Mexico. Scientists disagree on the content of the genus and some recognize Gorgosaurus libratus as a second species.
As a tyrannosaurid, Albertosaurus was a bipedal predator with short arms, two-fingered hands, and a massive head with dozens of large, sharp teeth, a strong sense of smell, powerful binocular vision, and a bone crushing bite force. It may have even been the apex predator in its local ecosystem. While Albertosaurus was certainly large for a theropod, it was still much smaller than its larger and more famous relative Tyrannosaurus, growing up to 8–9 metres (26–30 ft) in length and weighing 1.7–3.0 metric tons (1.9–3.3 short tons).
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Albertosaurus (revision 1373756291), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q40751.
