Daspletosaurus

Daspletosaurus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaurs that lived in western North America during the Late Cretaceous, roughly 77 to 74 million years ago. It is one of the earlier large tyrannosaurs and is believed to have been an apex predator in its ecosystems, occupying a role similar to later members of its family.

As a tyrannosaurid, Daspletosaurus was a large, bipedal carnivore with a massive skull, powerful jaws, and large conical teeth adapted for delivering deep, crushing bites. It had relatively short forelimbs with two functional fingers and stout hind limbs that supported a bipedal gait. Estimated adult length is about 8 to 9 meters (26–30 feet), with body mass commonly placed in the range of roughly 1.5 to 3 tonnes.

Fossils of Daspletosaurus have been found chiefly in what are now Alberta, Canada, and Montana, United States. The type species is Daspletosaurus torosus, described from the Dinosaur Park Formation, with another described species, Daspletosaurus horneri, tied to additional skull material from North American formations. The genus helps illuminate the early evolution of tyrannosaurids, showing the progression of features that culminate in later giants like Tyrannosaurus rex.

Paleobiology studies suggest rapid growth to large size and a predatory lifestyle oriented toward contemporary herbivorous dinosaurs such as hadrosaurs and ceratopsians. Daspletosaurus fossils contribute to understanding the diversity and ecological dynamics of Late Cretaceous western North American dinosaur communities.