Puncture-and-Pull Biomechanics in the Teeth of Predatory Coelurosaurian Dinosaurs
- PMID:29706515
- DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.03.042
Puncture-and-Pull Biomechanics in the Teeth of Predatory Coelurosaurian Dinosaurs
Abstract
The teeth of putatively carnivorous dinosaurs are often blade-shaped with well-defined serrated cutting edges (Figure 1). These ziphodont teeth are often easily differentiated based on the morphology and density of the denticles [1, 2]. A tearing function has been proposed for theropod denticles in general [3], but the functional significance of denticle phenotypic variation has received less attention. In particular, the unusual hooked denticles found in troodontids suggest a different feeding strategy or diet compared to other small theropods. We used a two-pronged approach to investigate the function of denticle shape variation across theropods with both congruent body shapes and sizes (e.g., dromaeosaurids versus troodontids) and highly disparate body shapes and sizes (e.g., troodontids versus tyrannosaurids), using microwear and finite element analyses (Figure 1). We found that many toothed coelurosaurian theropods employed a puncture-and-pull feeding movement, in which parallel scratches form while biting down into prey and oblique scratches form as the head is pulled backward with the jaws closed. In finite element simulations, theropod teeth had the lowest stresses when bite forces were aligned with the oblique family of microwear scratches. Different denticle morphologies performed differently under a variety of simulated biting angles: Dromaeosaurus and Saurornitholestes were well-adapted for handling struggling prey, whereas troodontid teeth were more likely to fail at non-optimal bite angles. Troodontids may have favored softer, smaller, or immobile prey.
Keywords: Cretaceous; FEA; diet; dinosaurs; microwear; teeth; theropod.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Similar articles
- Abelisauridae (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Late Jurassic of Portugal and dentition-based phylogeny as a contribution for the identification of isolated theropod teeth.Hendrickx C, Mateus O.Hendrickx C, et al.Zootaxa. 2014 Jan 30;3759:1-74. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3759.1.1.Zootaxa. 2014.PMID:24869965
- Morphological disparity and structural performance of the dromaeosaurid skull informs ecology and evolutionary history.Tse YT, Miller CV, Pittman M.Tse YT, et al.BMC Ecol Evol. 2024 Apr 16;24(1):39. doi: 10.1186/s12862-024-02222-5.BMC Ecol Evol. 2024.PMID:38622512Free PMC article.
- Biomechanics (Communication arising): prey attack by a large theropod dinosaur.Frazzetta TH, Kardong KV.Frazzetta TH, et al.Nature. 2002 Mar 28;416(6879):387-8. doi: 10.1038/416387a.Nature. 2002.PMID:11919619
- The theropod furcula.Nesbitt SJ, Turner AH, Spaulding M, Conrad JL, Norell MA.Nesbitt SJ, et al.J Morphol. 2009 Jul;270(7):856-79. doi: 10.1002/jmor.10724.J Morphol. 2009.PMID:19206153Review.
- Dinosaur biomechanics.Alexander RM.Alexander RM.Proc Biol Sci. 2006 Aug 7;273(1596):1849-55. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2006.3532.Proc Biol Sci. 2006.PMID:16822743Free PMC article.Review.
Cited by
- Size and shape heterodonty in the early Permian synapsid Mesenosaurus efremovi.Maho T, Maho S, Bevitt JJ, Reisz RR.Maho T, et al.J Anat. 2024 Jul;245(1):181-196. doi: 10.1111/joa.14034. Epub 2024 Mar 2.J Anat. 2024.PMID:38430000Free PMC article.
- Comparative microstructural study on the teeth of Mesozoic birds and non-avian dinosaurs.Wang Y, Li Z, Wang CC, Bailleul AM, Wang M, O'Connor J, Li J, Zheng X, Pei R, Teng F, Wang X, Zhou Z.Wang Y, et al.R Soc Open Sci. 2023 May 17;10(5):230147. doi: 10.1098/rsos.230147. eCollection 2023 May.R Soc Open Sci. 2023.PMID:37206961Free PMC article.
- Taking a stab at modelling canine tooth biomechanics in mammalian carnivores with beam theory and finite-element analysis.Pollock TI, Panagiotopoulou O, Hocking DP, Evans AR.Pollock TI, et al.R Soc Open Sci. 2022 Oct 19;9(10):220701. doi: 10.1098/rsos.220701. eCollection 2022 Oct.R Soc Open Sci. 2022.PMID:36300139Free PMC article.
- Ultramicrostructural reductions in teeth: implications for dietary transition from non-avian dinosaurs to birds.Li Z, Wang CC, Wang M, Chiang CC, Wang Y, Zheng X, Huang EW, Hsiao K, Zhou Z.Li Z, et al.BMC Evol Biol. 2020 Apr 21;20(1):46. doi: 10.1186/s12862-020-01611-w.BMC Evol Biol. 2020.PMID:32316913Free PMC article.
- The diet of early birds based on modern and fossil evidence and a new framework for its reconstruction.Miller CV, Pittman M.Miller CV, et al.Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2021 Oct;96(5):2058-2112. doi: 10.1111/brv.12743. Epub 2021 Jul 8.Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2021.PMID:34240530Free PMC article.Review.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources