Alioramus was a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Asia about 72.1 million years ago, i.e., 66 million years ago. An incomplete skull was discovered in Mongolia in 1976. It was a medium-sized tyrannosaur closely related to another Asian carnivore, Tarbosaurus. However, they differed both in size and in the distinctive ridges that ran along its snout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The name Alioramus means \"different branch\" and refers to the Altai mountain range of southern Mongolia. Like all known theropods, Alioramus was bipedal. Sharp teeth indicated that they were carnivorous. It had a long snout, a small, gracile carnivore that deviates from other Tyrannosaurs in its body plan and presumably in its ecological habits. In addition, it had at least eight small horns covering its face, including a row on top of its nose and two below its eyes. In addition, it had a slender snout, which projected horns on the midline of the skull. Alioramus had 76 or 78 teeth, more than any other Tyrannosaurus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the time when Alioramus lived, Mongolia was quite humid, wet and seasonally rainy, although periods of drought were known. It fed on herbivorous dinosaurs and other creatures smaller than itself. It relied on speed and agility to hunt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alioramus was estimated to be 5 to 6 m long and weighed 700 kg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n