暴龍科（Tyrannosauridae）之掠食行為長期以來為古生物學研究中的重要議題，尤其關於其是否為主動掠食者，或兼具食腐與機會性覓食行為，學界至今仍存在不同觀點。由於能直接反映暴龍掠食行為的化石紀錄極為罕見，凡呈現掠食或掠食情境之標本，皆具有高度研究價值。
本研究分析一件出土自蒙古戈壁沙漠耐梅蓋特層（Nemegt Formation）的特殊化石標本，其保存狀態顯示一具大型暴龍科恐龍頭骨於張口姿態下，頜部腔體內保存另一具小型恐龍之頭骨與部分骨骼。依據顱骨形態與喙部特徵，口腔內之次個體初步判定屬於竊蛋龍科（Oviraptoridae）。該標本在視覺上呈現類似掠食或吞噬之情境，因而引發其是否屬於行為化石之討論。
本研究以形態學分析為主要研究方法，透過顱骨、頜部、牙齒形態與骨骼排列關係之詳細觀察，進行系統性分類比對，並結合埋藏學（taphonomy）觀點，評估該標本之形成機制。主體個體之顱骨特徵，包括淚骨與眶後骨形態、牙齒剖面結構及頭骨比例，顯示其屬於成熟之暴龍亞科成員，形態上最接近勇士特暴龍（Tarbosaurus bataar）。次個體則依據無齒喙部、高冠頭骨與顱頂構造，確認其分類歸屬為竊蛋龍科。
進一步透過骨骼保存狀態、排列方式、牙痕與骨裂特徵之分析，本研究系統性排除人為造假、地層擠壓與隨機二次堆積等非生物成因假說。雖然該標本呈現暴龍與竊蛋龍之直接空間接觸，惟未見明確支持活體掠食的咬痕、嵌齒或搏鬥瞬間保存證據。綜合各項形態與埋藏學證據，本研究認為該標本較可能反映暴龍於掠食過程中含持或吞食竊蛋龍遺骸之行為，偏向食腐或非即時掠食情境，活體捕食的瞬間化石概率比較小。
本研究提供一件罕見之暴龍與竊蛋龍直接關聯標本，並透過形態學與埋藏學的整合分析，為探討暴龍科多樣化覓食策略及白堊紀晚期生態系中的交互關係，提供新的化石證據與研究視角。

The feeding behavior of tyrannosaurid dinosaurs has long been debated, particularly whether these large theropods primarily relied on active predation or also engaged in scavenging and opportunistic feeding strategies. Fossil evidence that directly captures tyrannosaurid feeding behavior is extremely rare, making any specimen that preserves a potential feeding interaction of exceptional scientific importance.
This study investigates an unusual fossil specimen recovered from the Nemegt Formation of the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, in which the skull of a large tyrannosaurid is preserved in an open-jawed position with the cranial remains and partial skeletal elements of a smaller dinosaur retained within the oral cavity. Based on cranial morphology and comparative analysis, the smaller individual is identified as an oviraptorid (Oviraptoridae). The spatial relationship between the two taxa visually resembles a feeding or predatory scenario, prompting further examination of its behavioral and taphonomic significance.

Barsbold, R. (1977). Oviraptorosauria, a new subgroup of Theropoda. Transactions of the Joint Soviet–Mongolian Paleontological Expedition, 4, 39–44.
Barsbold, R. (1981). Beaked theropod dinosaurs of Mongolia. Palaeontologia Polonica, 36, 5–42.
Behrensmeyer, A. K. (1982). Time resolution in fluvial vertebrate assemblages. Paleobiology, 8(3), 211–227.
Bell, P. R. (2012). Palaeopathology and behavior of tyrannosaurids. PLoS ONE, 7(5), e36258.
Bell, P. R., & Currie, P. J. (2010). A tyrannosaur jaw bitten by another tyrannosaur: Scavenging or combat in the latest Cretaceous of North America Lethaia, 43(4), 393–398.
Bever, G. S., Brusatte, S. L., Carr, T. D., Xu, X., Balanoff, A. M., & Norell, M. A. (2013). The braincase anatomy of the Late Cretaceous dinosaur Alioramus (Theropoda: Tyrannosauroidea). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 376(1), 1–72.
Brochu, C. A. (2003). Osteology of Tyrannosaurus rex: Insights from a nearly complete skeleton and high-resolution computed tomographic analysis of the skull. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir, 7, 1–138.
Brown, C. M., Holtz, T. R., & Evans, D. C. (2023). Stomach contents reveal Tyrannosaurus rex as an active predator of juvenile hadrosaurs. Science Advances, 9(40), eadi0505.
Brusatte, S. L., Carr, T. D., & Norell, M. A. (2012). Mandibular force profiles of Alioramini (Theropoda: Tyrannosauridae) with implications for palaeoecology of this unique lineage of tyrannosaurid dinosaurs. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 366, 1–197.
Brusatte, S. L., Carr, T. D., & Norell, M. A. (2012). The osteology of Alioramus, a gracile and long-snouted tyrannosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 366, 1–197.
Carbone, C., & Gittleman, J. L. (2002). A common rule for the scaling of carnivore density. Science, 295(5563), 2273–2276.
Carr, T. D. (1999). Craniofacial ontogeny in Tyrannosauridae (Dinosauria, Coelurosauria). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 19(3), 497–520. Clark, J. M., Norell, M. A., & Barsbold, R. (2001). Two new oviraptorids (Theropoda: Oviraptorosauria) from the Late Cretaceous Djadokhta Formation of Mongolia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 21(2), 209–213.
Clark, J. M., Norell, M. A., & Rowe, T. (2002). Cranial anatomy of Citipati osmolskae (Theropoda: Oviraptorosauria). American Museum Novitates, 3364, 1–24.
Currie, P. J., & Dong, Z. M. (2001). New information on Oviraptor philoceratops (Theropoda, Oviraptorosauria). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 21(3), 459–464.
DePalma, R. A., Burnham, D. A., Martin, L. D., Larson, P. L., & Bakker, R. T. (2013). Physical evidence of predatory behavior in Tyrannosaurus rex. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 110(8), 3174–3177.
Erickson, G. M., Currie, P. J., Inouye, B. D., & Winn, A. A. (2013). Taphonomy of feeding traces in tyrannosaurid fossils: Distinguishing predation from postmortem damage. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 375, 25–35.
Fiorillo, A. R. (1991). Taphonomy and depositional setting of Careless Creek Quarry (Judith River Formation), Wheatland County, Montana, U.S.A. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 81(4), 281–311. Horner, J. R., & Lessem, D. (1993). The Complete T. rex: How Stunning New Discoveries Are Changing Our Understanding of the World's Most Famous Dinosaur. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Foster, W., Brusatte, S. L., Carr, T. D., Williamson, T. E., Yi, L., & Lü, J. C. (2022). The cranial anatomy of the long-snouted tyrannosaurid dinosaur Qianzhousaurus sinensis from the Upper Cretaceous of China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 42(5), e2116210.
Funston, G. F., Currie, P. J., & Barsbold, R. (2018). Oviraptorosaur anatomy, diversity, and ecology in the Nemegt Basin, Mongolia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 494, 67–86.
Funston, G. F., Currie, P. J., Tsogtbaatar, K., & Tsogtbaatar, C. (2020). A new oviraptorid dinosaur reveals unique reproductive adaptations in the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia. Science Bulletin, 65(18), 1537–1545.
Hasiotis, S. T. (2004). Reconstructions of behavior from trace fossils and the value of ichnology in paleobiology. Paleontological Society Papers, 10, 39–60.
Holtz, T. R. Jr. (2008). A critical reappraisal of the tyrannosaurid phylogeny and taxonomy based on comparative cranial osteology. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 142(4), 371–425.
Hone, D. W. E., Wang, K., Sullivan, C., Zhao, X., Chen, S., Li, D., Ji, S., Ji, Q., & Xu, X. (2011). A new, large tyrannosaurine theropod from the Upper Cretaceous of China. Cretaceous Research, 32(4), 495–505.
Horner, J. R. (1994). Predator or scavenger? Evidence of feeding behavior in Tyrannosaurus rex. The Paleontological Society Papers, 6, 179–190.
Horner, J. R., & Lessem, D. (1993). The Complete T. rex: How Stunning New Discoveries Are Changing Our Understanding of the World's Most Famous Dinosaur. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Lü, J. C., Yi, L., Zhong, H., & Ji, Q. (2015). Oviraptorid dinosaurs (Theropoda: Oviraptorosauria): Morphology, phylogeny and evolution. Scientific Reports, 5, 11490.
Makovicky, P. J., & Norell, M. A. (2004). Troodontidae. In D. B. Weishampel, P. Dodson, & H. Osmólska (Eds.), The Dinosauria (2nd ed., pp. 184–195). Berkeley: University of California Press.
Maleev, E. A. (1955). New carnivorous dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR, 104(5), 779–782.
Norell, M. A., & Clark, J. M. (1995). A nesting dinosaur. Nature, 378(6559), 774–776.
Norell, M. A., & Hwang, S. H. (2004). A review of oviraptorosaur cranial morphology and relationships. American Museum Novitates, 3390, 1–47.
Osborn, H. F. (1905). Tyrannosaurus and other Cretaceous carnivorous dinosaurs. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 21, 259–265.
Paul, G. S. (1988). Predatory Dinosaurs of the World: A Complete Illustrated Guide. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Persons, W. S., Currie, P. J., & Erickson, G. M. (2019). Biomechanical modeling of Tyrannosaurus rex jaw function indicates extremely powerful bite forces. The Anatomical Record, 302(6), 1021–1031.
Słowiak, J., Wiśniewska, M., & Borsuk-Białynicka, M. (2024). Re-description of Bagaraatan ostromi (Theropoda: Tyrannosauroidea) from the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 69(2), 233–251.
Therrien, F. (2023). Exceptionally preserved stomach contents of a young tyrannosaurid reveal an ontogenetic dietary shift in an iconic extinct predator. Science Advances, 9(40), eadi0505.
Tsuihiji, T., Watabe, M., & Tsogtbaatar, K. (2015). Postcranial osteology of Nemegtomaia barsboldi (Theropoda: Oviraptorosauria). Paleontological Research, 19(2), 81–100.
Turner, A. H., Makovicky, P. J., & Norell, M. A. (2012). A review of dromaeosaurid systematics and paravian phylogeny. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 371, 1–206.
Woodward, H. N., Fowler, D. W., Farlow, J. O., & Horner, J. R. (2020). A high-resolution growth series of Tyrannosaurus rex obtained from multiple lines of evidence. PeerJ, 8, e9192.
Xu, X., Tang, Z. L., & Wang, X. L. (2001). A therizinosauroid dinosaur with integumentary structures from China. Nature, 399, 350–354.
Yang, Z.-R.（楊子睿）。（2019）。〈中國白堊紀竊蛋龍類孵育行為探究〉。國立成功大學地球科學研究所碩士論文，臺南。