Re: Sneak Peak at Yale Torosaurus Sculpture

[David Marjanovic <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

> Well. . .maybe ceratopsids didn't have cheeks? I was initially resistant 
> to
> this when Witmer first presented the idea, but then I started looking a
> little more closely on some real specimens. In most ceratopsid skulls, the
> anastomosing neurovascular impressions lead right up to the tooth row.

Those could indicate a beak, lips or cheeks, couldn't they? What about gums 
that were thick enough to protect the sides of the tooth batteries?

> Of course, I totally think Toro (and most other ceratopsids) would look
> better with some nice cheeks, but the evidence just doesn't support it in
> this group. Maybe a flap of skin at best? Who knows. . .

Of course I have no idea whether a mammal-style muscular cheek was present. 
But nothing at all, as in the sculpture, would mean that a lot of food 
routinely fell out of the mouth.