Tyrannosaurid-like osteophagy by a Triassic archosaur

Area of Science:

• Paleontology
• Vertebrate Paleontology
• Mesozoic Ecosystems

Background:

• Osteophagy, the consumption of bone, is a specialized feeding strategy observed in some extant and extinct carnivores.
• The Late Triassic period featured diverse predatory archosaurs, but direct evidence of their feeding behaviors is often scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate evidence of osteophagy in the Late Triassic archosaur Smok wawelski.
• To analyze the feeding ecology and behavior of S. wawelski based on fossil evidence.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of coprolites attributed to S. wawelski for bone fragment content and characteristics.
• Examination of associated fossil material, including worn teeth, regurgitalites, and bite-marked bones.
• Comparative anatomical analysis with other osteophagous predators, such as tyrannosaurids.

Main Results:

• Coprolites of S. wawelski contained up to 50% bone fragments, indicating significant osteophagy.
• Evidence of bone-crushing behavior was supported by worn teeth, bone-rich regurgitalites, and bite-marked dicynodont bones.
• S. wawelski shared osteophagy-related anatomical features (massive head, robust body) with tyrannosaurids, despite phylogenetic distance.

Conclusions:

• Smok wawelski was a pronounced osteophage, actively consuming and processing bone from various prey.
• The convergence in osteophagous adaptations between S. wawelski and tyrannosaurids highlights similar feeding ecologies driving evolution in large predators.
• This study provides insights into predator-prey dynamics and convergent evolution in archosaurs during the Mesozoic Era.