Scientists reveal the braincase anatomy of the late Cretaceous tyrannosaurid Alioramus
The late Cretaceous tyrannosaurid Alioramus altai is known from a single specimen whose articulated braincase exhibits a nearly unique combination of preservational quality, subadult stage of growth, and morphological complexity. An international team, including Dr. XU Xing, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, use a detailed physical preparation combined with high-resolution computed tomography to provide an expanded description of this braincase that includes details of the neurocranium and its dermal roof, pneumatic recesses and sinuses, cranial endocast, and inner ear cavities. The Study published in the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 376 (1) increases our understanding of dinosaur biology, and may further contribute to better understanding of tyrannosauroid relationships.