Tyrannosaurus rex Osborn 1905
Existing measurements of bite force were compiled from the literature (Table I) and analyzed in relation to the mean body masses of a variety of predatory species. The measurements of bite force were obtained in a variety of ways, ranging from electrically mediated muscle stimulation to voluntary bi...
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| Format: | Other/Unknown Material |
| Language: | unknown |
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Zenodo
2002
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3811873 http://treatment.plazi.org/id/FC378752FFEF1244FA841E940CBDF5F1 |
| Summary: | Existing measurements of bite force were compiled from the literature (Table I) and analyzed in relation to the mean body masses of a variety of predatory species. The measurements of bite force were obtained in a variety of ways, ranging from electrically mediated muscle stimulation to voluntary bites of trained animals and estimates of force generation based on the cross-sectional areas of jaw adductor muscles. To maximize the amount of data available for this analysis, results obtained in all these different ways were accepted as being of equally validity. In fact, however, it is unclear whether or not actual maximum bite forces are obtained by any of the methods, particularly in the case of measurements obtained from trained animals and estimates inferred from morphological analyses. This analysis was restricted to amniotes that are predominantly predators. Herbivores and gramnivores were excluded due to the obvious differences in morphology and function of their teeth and jaws, called for by their choice of food. Consequently, the species available for analysis are somewhat limited in variety, although they include crocodylians, mammals, chelonians, and squamates. Fully aquatic predators, such as sharks and toothed whales, were excluded due to the effects of buoyancy on body mass. In a gravitationally neutral environment, body mass may increase with greater positive allometry than is likely to be found among terrestrial predators. As a consequence, the inclusion of sharks or other aquatic predators would obscure any relationship that may exist between body mass and bite force in land animals. Actual body masses of test subjects were retained in analyses where available, while species mean body masses were utilized in the absence of direct measures from bite force subjects (see Table I). *Species not used in statistical analysis ( presented here for reference only). Published data were searched for references to the largest known prey items taken by each terrestrial predator, to establish the upper limits of ... |
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