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Related Concept Videos

Sutures of the Skull01:22

Sutures of the Skull

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The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these bones meet are called sutures.
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The cranium (skull) is the skeletal structure of the head that supports the face and protects the brain. It is subdivided into the facial bones and the brain case, or cranial vault. The facial bones underlie the facial structures, form the nasal cavity, enclose the eyeballs, and support the teeth of the upper and lower jaws.
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The superior view of the cranium shows the frontal and paired parietal bones.
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Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton
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Constraints and adaptations in crocodyliform skull evolution.

Ananth Srinivas1,2, Jen A Bright3, John A Cunningham1

  • 1Palaeobiology Research Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|November 11, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mesozoic crocodyliforms with dome-shaped skulls (oreinirostral) better resisted feeding forces than modern crocodilians with flat snouts (platyrostral). This suggests hydrodynamic constraints influenced skull evolution in these ancient reptiles.

Keywords:
Crocodyliformesfinite element analysisnotosuchiansoreinirostralplatyrostral

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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Biomechanics
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Crocodyliforms exhibit diverse skull shapes, with extant species having flat snouts (platyrostral) potentially limited by feeding and hydrodynamic factors.
  • Mesozoic crocodyliforms often had dome-shaped skulls (oreinirostral) and were terrestrial, free from hydrodynamic constraints.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional role of skull shape in crocodyliform evolution.
  • To compare stress resistance between oreinirostral and platyrostral crocodyliform skulls.

Main Methods:

  • Finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to assess biomechanical performance.
  • Evaluated skull stress resistance in oreinirostral taxa (Baurusuchus, Montealtosuchus, Caipirasuchus) and platyrostral taxa (Alligator, Crocodylus, Paleosuchus).

Main Results:

  • Oreinirostral skull morphologies demonstrated superior resistance to feeding-induced loads compared to platyrostral skulls.
  • Increased muscular efficiency was observed in oreinirostral taxa.

Conclusions:

  • The findings support the hypothesis that oreinirostral skulls are better adapted for resisting feeding forces in the absence of hydrodynamic constraints.
  • Hydrodynamic constraints likely played a significant role in shaping crocodyliform skull evolution over time.