Re: [SVP 2K review, part I]

[archosaur@usa.net]

"Thomas R. Holtz, Jr." <tholtz@geol.umd.edu> wrote:

> Emily Rayfield's Romer Prize session used
> Finite Element Analysis to reconstruct the bite forces in _Allosaurus_:
> turns out, not surprisingly, it is a lot weaker-jawed than >_Tyrannosaurus_,
and in fact the cranium can absorb greater impacts if > the mandible wasn't
used.  Emily suggested that _Allosaurus_ may have
> used a hatchet-like attack, and then used the slender mandible only in  >
feeding: this is also the suggestion of Bakker in the Gaia volume.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This sounds a lot like the attack strategy used by many large predatory
sharks; to come in full force with the upper jaw and use the lower jaw to saw
off the flesh. 

Sharks that do this tend to have piercing teeth on top with more saw edged
teeth on the bottom. Does anyone know if allosaurs had any of these tooth
disparities?


Jura

Jurassosaurus's Reptipage: A page devoted to the study of and education on,
the reptilia:

http://reptilis.net

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