Recent research has shed new light on Saurosuchus, a Late Triassic reptile and distant forebear of today’s crocodiles, indicating that it had a more feeble bite than was once thought, and wasn’t capable of breaking bones like subsequent dinosaurs. Despite its considerable dimensions, Saurosuchus’s biting force was on par with present-day gharials, significantly weaker than later predators such as Allosaurus and T. rex. An illustration of the skull and a life-size model of Saurosuchus has been provided. Credit: Jordan Bestwick, University of Birmingham
Computer models portraying top predators of the time reveal that they had unique eating habits compared to dinosaurs, due to their inability to pulverize bones.
230 million years ago, the dominating predators that wandered Earth probably had a weaker bite than previously assumed, and were likely incapable of breaking through bones to consume their entire prey.
A freshly released study in The Anatomical Record, conducted by paleontologists at the University of Birmingham, has reconstructed the primal skull structure of Saurosuchus, a Late Triassic reptile, and a distant kin of contemporary crocodiles. It was presumed that Saurosuchus, being between 5-8 meters long and weighing over 250 kg, was a leading predator.
However, the most recent examination of the reptile’s skulls and comparisons with the later and renowned dinosaur Allosaurus discovered that although they had similar skull strengths, Saurosuchus’s bite was significantly weaker than the dinosaurs that succeeded it. Saurosuchus could exert a biting force of 1015–1885 N, comparable to the modern-day crocodiles known as gharials.
For context:
Allosaurus: 3,572 N
Saltwater crocodiles exert a bite force of approximately 16,000 N
Tyrannosaurus rex: 17,000-35,000 N
Dr. Jordan Bestwick, a vertebrate palaeobiologist at the University of Birmingham and primary author of the study, stated: “Our findings demonstrate that Saurosuchus possessed an astonishingly feeble bite for its size and thus preyed in ways quite different from the dinosaurs that came after. Despite being one of the larger lizards and a leading predator, Saurosuchus’s bite was as modest as the rather insubstantial bite of the gharial, and far less potent than contemporary crocs and alligators.
“While one would have done well to avoid Saurosuchus, they most likely fed only on the softer parts of their prey since their bite wouldn’t have permitted them to break bones.”
A gradual depiction of the skull’s restoration process is provided. Credit: Jordan Bestwick, University of Birmingham
Prudent Eaters
In spite of their relative enormity, Saurosuchus would have been cautious eaters that utilized their rear teeth to strip the flesh from their prey, the study infers.
Unlike subsequent dinosaurs, Saurosuchus’s feeding habits were probably influenced by a weaker bite and a more elongated skull structure. Furthermore, these early reptiles had more slender nasal bones compared to later Allosaurus.
Dr. Stephan Lautenschlager, Associate Professor in Palaeobiology at the University of Birmingham and senior author of the article, commented: “Saurosuchus must have been a terrifying reptile until it commenced to consume its quarry, and we can discern how evolutionary nuances in the skulls of these immense top predators necessitated marked differences in eating behavior. While dinosaurs from the Jurassic period might have ingested almost all of their prey, Saurosuchus possibly left more intact carcasses, thus offering an additional meal for scavengers.”
Molly Fawcett, a co-writer of the paper, added: “It is astounding how much the skulls of the Triassic period’s apex predators resemble those of familiar carnivorous dinosaurs like the T. rex. However, we were surprised to find that the biting power of these Triassic predators was notably weaker compared to post-Triassic dinosaurs.”
Reference: “Functional morphology of the Triassic apex predator Saurosuchus galilei (Pseudosuchia: Loricata) and convergence with a post-Triassic theropod dinosaur” by Molly J. Fawcett, Stephan Lautenschlager, Jordan Bestwick, and Richard J. Butler, 16 August 2023, The Anatomical Record.
DOI: 10.1002/ar.25299
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: Saurosuchus
What is Saurosuchus, and why is it significant in the study of apex predators?
Saurosuchus is a Late Triassic reptile that was considered an apex predator, being a distant relative of modern crocodiles. The recent study has shown that its bite strength was much weaker than previously believed, equivalent to modern gharials and much weaker than its successors like Allosaurus and T. rex. This has led to new insights into its feeding behaviors and the evolutionary details of massive apex predators.
What were the findings regarding the bite strength of Saurosuchus in comparison to other predators?
The research revealed that the bite force of Saurosuchus ranged between 1015–1885 N, significantly weaker than later dinosaurs like Allosaurus, which had a bite force of 3,572 N, and much less than modern saltwater crocodiles or Tyrannosaurus rex. The bite strength was found to be on par with modern gharials, a revelation that sheds new light on its feeding habits.
How was the study on Saurosuchus conducted?
The study was carried out by paleontologists from the University of Birmingham, who recreated the original skull anatomy of Saurosuchus. They used computer simulations and comparative analysis with the well-known dinosaur Allosaurus to evaluate the bite force and feeding behaviors.
What does the study tell us about the feeding behavior of Saurosuchus?
Despite its large size and status as an apex predator, Saurosuchus had a bite that was too weak to crunch bones. The study suggests that Saurosuchus was a careful eater that used its back teeth to remove flesh from its prey and was likely unable to consume the entirety of its kills. This behavior contrasts with later dinosaurs and reflects a more evolved feeding strategy in subsequent eras.
How does the study of Saurosuchus contribute to our understanding of Triassic predators?
The research on Saurosuchus reveals unexpected details about the feeding habits and evolutionary characteristics of Triassic predators. Despite similarities in skull structure to well-known carnivorous dinosaurs like the T. rex, the bite power was far weaker. This provides insights into the ecological roles of such predators and the evolutionary progression that led to more formidable biting forces in later periods.
