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Cranial muscle reconstructions quantify adaptation for high bite forces in Oviraptorosauria
1University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. luke.edward.meade@gmail.com.
Scientific Reports
|February 23, 2022
Summary
Oviraptorosaurian dinosaurs, particularly oviraptorids, possessed strong bite forces and limited jaw gape, suggesting adaptations for consuming tough vegetation. These traits differed from other herbivorous theropods, possibly aiding niche partitioning.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Functional Morphology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Oviraptorosaurians are herbivorous theropod dinosaurs known for pneumatized crania and toothless jaws.
- Their cranial adaptations suggest a strong bite, but functional analyses are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cranial function and bite force in oviraptorid dinosaurs.
- To compare cranial function between oviraptorids and other herbivorous theropods.
Main Methods:
- 3D retrodeformed skull models of Citipati, Khaan, Conchoraptor, and Incisivosaurus were created.
- Jaw adductor musculature was digitally reconstructed.
- Bite force and gape angles were estimated using biomechanical modeling.
Main Results:
- Oviraptorids exhibited significantly stronger bite forces than other herbivorous theropods, relative to body mass.
- Increased bite force in oviraptorids resulted from cranial geometry and expanded muscular space, not muscle arrangement.
- Estimated gape angles were smaller than in carnivorous theropods, similar to herbivorous therizinosaurians and modern birds.
Conclusions:
- The combination of high bite force and restrictive gape suggests oviraptorids were adapted for processing tough vegetation.
- Cranial function and diet likely differed between oviraptorids and other herbivorous theropods.
- Variations in jaw muscle strength may have facilitated niche partitioning among co-occurring oviraptorids.
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