Estimating maximum bite performance in Tyrannosaurus rex using multi-body dynamics.

Area of Science:

• Paleontology
• Biomechanics
• Functional Morphology

Background:

• The feeding behavior and bite mechanics of Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex) remain debated, with theories ranging from scavenging to active predation.
• Understanding T. rex bite force is crucial for reconstructing its ecological role and predatory capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To simulate and quantify the maximal bite forces of Tyrannosaurus rex using dynamic musculoskeletal models.
• To investigate the relationship between bite performance, body size, and ontogenetic development in T. rex.
• To infer potential shifts in feeding behavior throughout the lifespan of T. rex.

Main Methods:

• Development and utilization of dynamic musculoskeletal models to simulate maximal biting in T. rex.
• Estimation of sustained bite forces exerted at posterior teeth.
• Allometric scaling analyses to compare bite performance relative to body size and during ontogeny.

Main Results:

• Adult T. rex generated exceptionally high sustained bite forces, estimated between 35,000-57,000 N at a single posterior tooth.
• These bite forces are the highest recorded for any terrestrial animal.
• Bite performance scaled positively with body size during ontogeny, indicating increasing strength with age.

Conclusions:

• The formidable bite force of T. rex strongly supports a predatory lifestyle.
• Allometric increase in bite performance during growth likely drove an ontogenetic shift in feeding strategies.
• Adult T. rex likely preyed upon the largest available animals, expanding its prey range significantly.