Feeding biomechanics in vertebrates and beyond

Feeding is a vital activity for all heterotrophic organisms, as life cannot be sustained without a continuous intake of energy. Survival and reproduction are directly dependent on access to food resources and consequently the need to obtain food is a strong selective pressure in evolution, driving adaptations in anatomy, physiology, and behavior. In this Special Issue of The Anatomical Record, we aim to highlight the benefits of a comparative approach beyond taxonomic borders to provide insights into evolutionary convergence or divergence and to deepen our understanding of the feeding biomechanics. It compiles original works that focus on the anatomy, functional morphology, and feeding biomechanics across diverse taxa ranging from insects to fish and mammals. They collectively address different components of the feeding system such as oropharyngeal mechanics, tooth function, bite force, masticatory musculature, craniomandibular morphology, and dental microwear patterns, applying both experimental and modeling techniques. Together, these papers demonstrate how comparative and interdisciplinary approaches reveal both convergent and lineage-specific solutions to biomechanical challenges associated with feeding. Beyond providing novel insights into feeding biology, the contributions also establish methodological frameworks for future research, particularly in the areas of dental microwear texture analysis standardization, digital modeling of elusive species, and quantitative reconstruction of muscle function from skeletal anatomy.