-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 avLUV30VN9yHIt7TCYGHMg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001257171-09-000001.txt : 20090506
<SEC-HEADER>0001257171-09-000001.hdr.sgml : 20090506
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090506094259
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001257171-09-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090430
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090506
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090506

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHEN STEPHEN T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001257171

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20791
		FILM NUMBER:		09799834

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		13 CHARTER STREET
		STREET 2:		APT 13F
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02113

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMARILLO BIOSCIENCES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001014763
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				751974352
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AMARILLO BIOSCIENCES INC
		STREET 2:		4134 BUSINESS PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			AMARILLO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79110-4225
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(806) 376-1741

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AMARILLO BIOSCIENCES INC
		STREET 2:		4134 BUSINESS PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			AMARILLO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79110-4225
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-04-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001014763</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMARILLO BIOSCIENCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMAR.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001257171</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHEN STEPHEN T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>13 CHARTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>APT 13F</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02113</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>139500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-04-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-04-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.1</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-12-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-12-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>64125</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>64125</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.3</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-08-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-08-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.4</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-02-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-02-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.27</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-08-27</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-08-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>110000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>110000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Chrystal Shelton, Attorney in fact for Stephen T Chen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----