Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Canada Ontario Toronto Acrotholus Audeti
AO Edited

Acrotholus Audeti

The remains of the oldest bone-headed dinosaur in North America.

Toronto, Ontario

Added By
Kris
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The display case with info.   lampbane / Atlas Obscura User
The newer specimen.   lampbane / Atlas Obscura User
The older specimen.   lampbane / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

New dinosaurs are discovered all the time, even among bones discovered decades ago. All it takes is another look, as was the case of a skullcap found 50 years ago which turned out to be the remains of the oldest bone-headed dinosaur in North America.

Acrotholus audeti was about six feet long and weighed about 80 pounds (40 kilograms) with a dome-shaped skull over 10 centimeters thick. Alive 85 million years ago, the reptile walked on two legs.

The original skull was found 80 years ago in the Milk River Formation of southern Alberta, but a later excavation for the Southern Alberta Dinosaur Project in 2008 uncovered a better specimen for study.

The two pieces were identified together as a new species by David Evans of the Royal Ontario Museum and Michael Ryan of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and it was named for Alberta rancher and landowner Roy Audet, on whose property the new specimen was discovered. The specimens were put on side-by-side display in the Royal Ontario Museum beginning in 2013.

Related Tags

Natural History Paleontology Dinosaurs

Know Before You Go

The display case containing Acrotholus audeti is located in the Age of Dinosaurs gallery of the Royal Ontario Museum, just to the right of the "Gordo" skeleton.

Community Contributors

Added By

lampbane

Published

August 4, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Acrotholus Audeti
100 Queens Park
Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6
Canada
43.66771, -79.394777
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Gordo the Barosaurus

Toronto, Ontario

miles away

Museum Station

Toronto, Ontario

miles away

The Yorkville Rock

Toronto, Ontario

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Toronto

Toronto

Ontario

Places 55
Stories 8

Nearby Places

Gordo the Barosaurus

Toronto, Ontario

miles away

Museum Station

Toronto, Ontario

miles away

The Yorkville Rock

Toronto, Ontario

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Toronto

Toronto

Ontario

Places 55
Stories 8

Related Places

  • Museum at Black Hills Institute

    Hill City, South Dakota

    Museum at Black Hills Institute

    One of the largest private collections of fossils in the world.

  • Dinosaurs overlooking the valley.

    Cuenca, Spain

    Castilla-La Mancha Paleontological Museum

    This museum is known as the "Land of the Dinosaurs," but its full-scale dino models are just the start.

  • A statue of Hadrosaurus in downtown Haddonfield.

    Haddonfield, New Jersey

    Hadrosaurus Foulkii Leidy Site

    The first partially complete dinosaur skeleton was discovered here, forever changing the world's view of the ruling reptiles.

  • Statues at the Dinosaur House.

    Henderson, Nevada

    Dinosaur House

    A retired schoolteacher in suburban Nevada transformed his front yard into a paleontological menagerie.

  • Allosaurus fragilis at Dinosaur Journey Museum

    Fruita, Colorado

    Dinosaur Journey Museum

    Explore a wealth of fossils in one of the most prolific dig sites in North America.

  • Pachyrinosaurus

    Wembley, Alberta

    Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum

    Alberta's Pipestone Creek Bonebed is one of the densest fossil sites in the world. This nearby museum showcases some of the best finds from its "river of death."

  • Tyrannosaurus rex is one of roughly 200 life-sized prehistoric giants found at Dinosaur World.

    Plant City, Florida

    Dinosaur World

    Nearly 200 prehistoric giants lurk among the trees at this theme park.

  • Sebayashi Ripple Marks

    Kanna, Japan

    Sebayashi Ripple Marks

    Fifty-odd dinosaur footprints are preserved on this strip of mountain cliff along with ancient ripple marks.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.