Paleontology Collection in Birmingham, AL

Pronounced: appa-lay-chee-o-saw-rus
Common name: Alabama tyrannosaur
Age: Late Cretaceous Period
Size: 22 feet long
Diet: Carnivore

A relative of T. rex, Appalachiosaurus was the dominant predator in Alabama during the Late Cretaceous Period. The bones on display in this exhibit come from the most complete Appalachiosaurus ever discovered and represent the most complete tyrannosaur ever found in the eastern half of the United States. Unlike T. rex, the arms of Appalachiosaurus were large, perhaps representing the largest arms of any tyrannosaur ever discovered in North America. This skeleton represents the first mounted Appalachiosaurus on exhibit in the world.

Pronounced: no-doe-sawr
Common name: Armored dinosaur
Age: Late Cretaceous Period
Size: 13 feet long
Diet: Herbivore

Nodosaurs were large armored dinosaurs that walked on all four legs. Nodosaurs were slow dinosaurs and likely spent large amounts of time grazing on low-lying vegetation. The backs of these dinosaurs were covered with a series of scutes (also known as armored plating) and bony spikes that helped protect them from any attacking dinosaurs.

Pronounced: dro-me-oh-sawr
Common name: Raptor
Age: Late Cretaceous Period
Size: 9 feet long
Diet: Carnivore

Dromaeosaurs were lightly built, quick-moving dinosaurs that likely hunted in packs. Dromaeosaur jaws were lined with backward-curving teeth, allowing them to better grasp their prey. This dinosaur also had powerful claws on its fingers and a large curved claw on the second toe on each of its feet. It is likely Dromaeosaurs would have balanced on one foot, allowing the other foot to swing forward, and the claw to cut open its prey.

Pronounced: or-ni-tho-my-mid
Name Meaning: Bird Mimic
Age: Late Cretaceous Period
Size: 16 feet long
Diet: Herbivore (probably fruit and insects)

Ornithomimids were fast-running dinosaurs with toothless jaws. They had two hands that were likely used to pull branches with fruit down to feeding height. It is likely Ornithomimids also ate insects as a source of protein.

Pronounced: te-ran-oh-don
Common name: Flying Reptile
Age: Late Cretaceous Period
Size: 25-foot wingspan
Diet: Fishes

Pteranodon was not actually a dinosaur but instead is considered a flying reptile. It’s name means “winged and toothless.” Like modern birds, Pteranodon had light, hollow bones—a trait ideal for flight. Pteranodon could have likely soared for extremely long distances, skimming above the ocean while hunting for fishes.

Pronounced: ik-thee-orn-is
Common name: Fish Bird
Age: Late Cretaceous Period
Size: 1 foot tall
Diet: Small fishes

Ichthyornis was a small bird that once lived in central Alabama near the shore of the Late Cretaceous Inland Sea. It is likely that the tern-sized Ichthyornis looked and behaved much like modern sea birds, and spent the majority of its time flying over the ocean hunting for small fish. Unlike modern birds, the beak of Ichthyornis was full of small, sharp teeth. The bones of Ichthyornis are very small, lightweight, and fragile, so it is very rare to find more than only isolated bones of this bird. McWane Science Center houses one of the world’s largest collections of Ichthyornis remains.