IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/nature/v409y2001i6823d10.1038_35059070.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Cranial design and function in a large theropod dinosaur

Author

Listed:
  • Emily J. Rayfield

    (University of Cambridge)

  • David B. Norman

    (University of Cambridge
    Smithsonian Institution)

  • Celeste C. Horner

    (Museum of the Rockies, Montana State University)

  • John R. Horner

    (Museum of the Rockies, Montana State University)

  • Paula May Smith

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Jeffrey J. Thomason

    (Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph)

  • Paul Upchurch

    (University of Cambridge)

Abstract

Finite element analysis (FEA)1 is used by industrial designers and biomechanicists to estimate the performance of engineered structures or human skeletal and soft tissues subjected to varying regimes of stress and strain2,3,4. FEA is rarely applied to problems of biomechanical design in animals, despite its potential to inform structure–function analysis. Non-invasive techniques such as computed tomography scans can be used to generate accurate three-dimensional images of structures, such as skulls, which can form the basis of an accurate finite element model. Here we have applied this technique to the long skull of the large carnivorous theropod dinosaur Allosaurus fragilis5. We have generated the most geometrically complete and complex FEA model of the skull of any extinct or extant organism and used this to test its mechanical properties and examine, in a quantitative way, long-held hypotheses concerning overall shape and function6,7,8. The combination of a weak muscle-driven bite force, a very ‘light’ and ‘open’ skull architecture and unusually high cranial strength, suggests a very specific feeding behaviour for this animal. These results demonstrate simply the inherent potential of FEA for testing mechanical behaviour in fossils in ways that, until now, have been impossible.

Suggested Citation

  • Emily J. Rayfield & David B. Norman & Celeste C. Horner & John R. Horner & Paula May Smith & Jeffrey J. Thomason & Paul Upchurch, 2001. "Cranial design and function in a large theropod dinosaur," Nature, Nature, vol. 409(6823), pages 1033-1037, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:409:y:2001:i:6823:d:10.1038_35059070
    DOI: 10.1038/35059070
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/35059070
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/35059070?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Neil Curtis & Marc E H Jones & Junfen Shi & Paul O'Higgins & Susan E Evans & Michael J Fagan, 2011. "Functional Relationship between Skull Form and Feeding Mechanics in Sphenodon, and Implications for Diapsid Skull Development," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(12), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Pahl, Cameron C. & Ruedas, Luis A., 2021. "Carnosaurs as Apex Scavengers: Agent-based simulations reveal possible vulture analogues in late Jurassic Dinosaurs," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 458(C).
    3. Zhijie Jack Tseng & Jill L Mcnitt-Gray & Henryk Flashner & Xiaoming Wang & Reyes Enciso, 2011. "Model Sensitivity and Use of the Comparative Finite Element Method in Mammalian Jaw Mechanics: Mandible Performance in the Gray Wolf," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(4), pages 1-12, April.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:409:y:2001:i:6823:d:10.1038_35059070. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.