4 Interesting Facts and Figures About the Gorgosaurus
Of the many dinosaurs that once ruled our planet, the Gorgosaurus earns a spot among the most fascinating. Although this beast isn’t as popular as some of its cousins, it was definitely a threat. The Gorgosaurus was a carnivorous dinosaur that inhabited what is now Canada and the United States during the Late Cretaceous period. Read on to learn some of the most interesting facts and figures about the Gorgosaurus.
Its Namesake
Gorgosaurus gets its name from its key traits, as it means fierce lizard! This dinosaur was approximately 8.6 meters long and weighed between 2 and 3 tons. Not to mention, Gorgosaurus had large, razor-sharp teeth and short forelimbs, making it resemble a small T. rex.
It Was a Massive Tyrannosaurid
Scientists categorize dinosaurs into various groups based on key physical factors, behavioral traits, their period, and other characteristics. The Gorgosaurus was a theropod just like the Velociraptor, Allosaurus, T. rex, Dilophosaurus, and modern-day birds! But “theropod” simply describes the type of dinosaur it was, and scientists have become more specific with families and subfamilies. In the case of the Gorgosaurus, it belongs to the Tyrannosauridae family and the Albertosaurinae subfamily.
What’s fascinating here is that by examining the grouping, we can see which other dinosaurs this beast shared a family tree with. As a member of the Tyrannosauridae family, it would have shared a lineage with the T. rex, and the Albertosaurinae subfamily means it was closely related to the Albertosaurus.
It Topped the Food Chain
The Gorgosaurus was a large theropod that preyed on herbivorous dinosaurs. It would have eaten Styracosaurus, Corythosaurus, and Centrosaurus, among other beasts. As an apex predator, the Gorgosaurus had little need to worry about other creatures seeing it as a food source.
Interestingly, this dinosaur species may have hunted in groups, as fossil evidence indicates that various Tyrannosaurids, including Albertosaurus and Daspletosaurus, coexisted. Additionally, paleontologists have found groups of footprints left by Gorgosaurus, indicating that they possibly hunted—or at least traveled—as a unit.
It Had Distinctive Eyes
Most Tyrannosaurids had either oval or keyhole-shaped eye sockets, but the Gorgosaurus was a bit of an outlier with rounder ones. Since this dinosaur had round eye sockets, it most likely had larger eyes and better vision than its relatives (round eyes mean a wider field of view).
Another interesting fact about the Gorgosaurus is the positioning of its eye sockets, which allowed it to have semi-binocular vision. While its eyes weren’t at the front of its face like we see with most modern predators, they were only slightly to the side and angled to allow for some visual overlap between both eyes. Binocular vision makes it easier for animals to see what’s in front of them, increasing a predator’s chances of catching prey.
Get Dinosaur Action Figures
Creative Beast Studio has dinosaur action figures designed to resemble the real creatures, including the Gorgosaurus. These are perfect for collectors of any age, and they allow you to bring your favorite beasts into your home. Bring the prehistoric world to life!
