As we approach a new decade, we’re looking back on a few of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology’s many highlights from the last ten years – with grateful thanks to everyone who supports our work!

From 2010 through 2019:

The Royal Tyrrell Museum collected almost 40,000 specimens.

Used over 180,000 kilograms of plaster to make field jackets.

Used 500+ litres of glue to stabilize fossils.

Technicians spent 700+ hours exposing, cleaning, and stabilizing this Gorgosaurus.

Research highlights include:

Discovered the first feathered ornithomimids in the world and the first feathered dinosaurs in North America.

Collected and prepared a Gorgosaurus that is the most complete juvenile tyrannosaur specimen discovered in Canada (and possibly even in North America).

Published research on a theropod nesting site in Mongolia that revealed colonial nesting behaviour first evolved in the dinosaurian ancestors of birds, and that adults protected nests during the incubation period.

Used computer models to determine that Spinosaurus was not specialized for a semi-aquatic mode of life.

Regaliceratops is the most impressive horned dinosaur discovery since Triceratops.

A small leptoceratopsid skeleton from Fort MacLeod was exposed because of heavy flooding in southern Alberta in 2013. Its discovery launched our flood mitigation program.

Described Regaliceratops peterhewsi, a new genus and species of horned dinosaur. The unique characteristics of Regaliceratops have greatly increased our understanding of the evolution of horned dinosaurs.

Collected and led research on Borealopelta markmitchelli, the best-preserved armoured dinosaur in the world. This specimen is preserved three-dimensionally, including original scales, skin, and stomach contents.

Published the first evidence that an Iguanodon-like dinosaur lived in Alberta, based on a fossil footprint.

An illustration showing the preserved parts of the mammal Ferrequitherium sweeti.

Discovered a new Palaeocene mammal trackway at the Brazeau Dam. There are only three Palaeocene mammal trackways in the whole world.

Described a new family of eutherian mammals, the Horolodectidae. The appearance of Horolodectidae in the fossil record adds to scientific understanding of mammal communities during the late Palaeocene.

Found a new species of multituberculate, Catopsalis kawka. The size of Catopsalis kakwa suggests that these mammals may have been smaller than previously thought.

Bobastrania canadensis is a type of ray-finned fished that lived in the Early Triassic Period.

Researched fossil fishes from the Triassic Period. These specimens show that 13 groups of fishes were commonly found across a widespread area of ocean during the Early Triassic.

Investigated the diversity and palaeoecology of ray-finned fishes from microvertebrate sites of the Hell Creek Formation in Montana.

Conducted biostratigraphic analysis of the Edmonton Rock Group, providing insights into how climate change influenced what kinds of dinosaurs were living in the area throughout time.

Published the most definitive, comprehensive book on triprojectate fossil pollen in the world.

Fossil amphibians are found worldwide.

Conducted a comprehensive review of Mesozoic and Palaeocene amphibian fossil localities in North America.

Completed the most comprehensive study of the fossil record of amphibians in Africa.

Conducted an extensive study of the fossil record of tadpoles worldwide.

Illustration of Cryodrakon boreas. Artwork courtesy of David Maas.

Co-authored research on the largest pterosaur in Canada, Cryodrakon boreas.

Published a rigorous and tested method for estimating the body masses of pterosaurs.

Published a study showing that pterosaurs would not have floated like seabirds, and would have been in trouble in water.

The specimens collected and research published in the last decade will shape the future of palaeontology in Alberta and around the world. We’re looking forward to sharing new discoveries in the next 10 years!

Check out some exhibit highlights from the last decade.