The study of giant carnivorous dinosaurs has long been a source of fascination for scientists. A recent analysis of 18 species of predatory dinosaurs reveals that while some giants like the Tyrannosaurus rex were optimized for crushing prey, others, such as spinosaurs and allosaurs, had weaker bites and specialized in slashing and ripping flesh.

The findings, published in the journal Current Biology, demonstrate that meat-eating dinosaurs followed different evolutionary paths in terms of skull design and feeding style despite their similarly gigantic sizes. According to Dr. Andrew Rowe, a researcher at the University of Bristol, “Carnivorous dinosaurs took very different paths as they evolved into giants in terms of feeding biomechanics and possible behaviors.”

The research involved analyzing 3D scans of dinosaur skulls using CT technology and surface scanning. The scientists quantified the feeding performance and measured the bite strength across various species. They were surprised to find clear biomechanical divergence, with some dinosaurs having skulls that were optimized for high bite forces at the cost of higher skull stress.

In contrast, other giants like Giganotosaurus had relatively lighter bites. The findings show that being a predatory biped didn’t always equate to being a bone-crushing giant. Unlike T. rex, some dinosaurs, including spinosaurs and allosaurs, became giants while maintaining weaker bites more suited for slashing at prey and stripping flesh.

Dr. Rowe compares the feeding style of Allosaurus to that of a modern Komodo dragon, highlighting the diversity of dinosaur ecosystems and the specialization of different predators. The research was supported by funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

The study provides new insights into the evolution of giant carnivorous dinosaurs and their feeding behaviors, offering a more nuanced understanding of these fascinating creatures.

The coelacanth, also known as the “living fossil,” has been a subject of fascination for scientists due to its unique anatomy that has remained largely unchanged since the extinction of the dinosaurs. A recent study published in Science Advances has revealed new insights into vertebrate evolution, shedding light on the cranial musculature of the African coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae).

The researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) and the Smithsonian Institution in the United States conducted a thorough examination of the fish’s anatomy, focusing on its cranial muscles. They discovered that only 13% of the previously identified evolutionary muscle novelties for the largest vertebrate lineages were accurate.

“Ultimately, it’s even more similar to cartilaginous fish and tetrapods than previously thought,” said Aléssio Datovo, a professor at the Museum of Zoology (MZ) at USP, who led the study. The researchers also identified nine new evolutionary transformations related to innovations in feeding and respiration in these groups.

Among the evolutionary novelties erroneously identified as present in coelacanths were muscles responsible for actively expanding the buccopharyngeal cavity, which extends from the mouth to the pharynx. However, the study showed that these supposed muscles in coelacanths were actually ligaments, which are structures incapable of contraction.

This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of vertebrate evolution, particularly regarding the cranial muscles of other large vertebrates. The researchers used three-dimensional microtomography images of the skulls of other fish groups to infer where the muscles found in coelacanths would fit, elucidating the evolution of these muscles in the first jawed vertebrates.

This study has shed new light on the evolution of vertebrate cranial musculature and highlights the importance of further research into this area. The discovery also underscores the significance of the coelacanth as a “living fossil,” providing valuable insights into the evolution of vertebrates that are not available from fossil records alone.

The study’s findings have far-reaching implications for our understanding of vertebrate evolution, and researchers intend to analyze similarities with the muscles of tetrapods, such as amphibians and reptiles, in future work.

The discovery of North America’s oldest known pterosaur has sent shockwaves through the scientific community. A team of researchers led by paleontologist Ben Kligman has unearthed the fossilized jawbone of a new species, Eotephradactylus mcintireae, in the remote Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. The find dates back to the late Triassic period, around 209 million years ago, and sheds light on a dynamic ecosystem where diverse groups of animals coexisted.

The Owl Rock Member, a geologic outcrop rich in volcanic ash, has allowed researchers to date the site to around 209 million years old. This makes it one of the park’s youngest rocks and provides a unique window into the Triassic period. The exposures of the Owl Rock Member are found in very remote areas, making them less studied than other geological members in the park.

The team discovered over 1,200 individual fossils, including bones, teeth, fish scales, and coprolites (fossilized poop). This assemblage contains 16 different groups of vertebrate animals that once inhabited a diverse ecosystem. The region’s braided rivers were filled with fish, like freshwater sharks and coelacanths, as well as ancient amphibians, some of which grew up to 6 feet long.

The surrounding environment was home to fearsome reptiles that evolved earlier in the Triassic, including armored herbivores and toothy predators that resembled giant crocodiles. Living alongside these strange creatures were a variety of more familiar critters, including relatives of tuataras and early frogs.

One of the most significant finds is the fossils of an ancient turtle with spike-like armor and a shell that could fit inside a shoebox. This tortoise-like animal lived around the same time as the oldest known turtle, whose fossils were previously uncovered in Germany.

The team also discovered a new species of pterosaur, which would have been small enough to comfortably perch on a person’s shoulder. The tooth-studded jaw revealed crucial clues about how the earliest pterosaurs lived. Because the tips of the teeth were worn down, the team concluded that the pterosaur likely fed on the site’s fish, many of which were encased in armor-like scales.

The bonebed is the latest research collaboration between the National Museum of Natural History and Petrified Forest National Park. Smithsonian scientists have collected petrified wood, fossils, and archaeological objects from the region since the turn of the 20th century.

This remarkable discovery has shed new light on the Triassic period and highlights the importance of continued exploration and research in our understanding of ancient ecosystems. The find also underscores the significance of preserving and protecting our natural heritage for future generations.