Re: Majungatholus: Apparent Cannibal

["Tim Williams" <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Dan Varner wrote:

> The report is in this week's (4/3/2003) edition of Nature. DV

Indeed it is...


Rogers, R.R., Krause, D.W., and Curry Rogers, K. (2003).  Cannibalism in the 
Madagascan dinosaur Majungatholus atopus.  Nature 422: 515-518.

"Many lines of evidence have been brought to bear on the question of 
theropod feeding ecology, including functional and physiological 
considerations, morphological constraints, taphonomic associations, and 
telling?although rare?indications of direct ingestion1-7. Tooth marks of 
theropods, although rarely described and generally left unassigned to a 
particular taxon, can provide unique clues into predator?prey interaction, 
and can also yield insights into the extent of carcass utilization. Here we 
describe a sample of tooth-marked dinosaur bone recovered from three 
well-documented localities in the Upper Cretaceous Maevarano Formation of 
Madagascar that provides insights into the feeding ecology of the 
abelisaurid theropod _Majungatholus atopus_. Intensely tooth-marked elements 
from multiple individuals show that Majungatholus defleshed dinosaur 
carcasses. Furthermore, _Majungatholus_ clearly fed upon the remains of not 
only sauropods, but also conspecifics, and thus was a cannibal. Cannibalism 
is a common ecological strategy among extant carnivores, but until now the 
evidence in relation to carnivorous dinosaurs has been sparse and 
anecdotal."



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