Not all fierce-looking dinosaurs like T rex packed strong bites, study reveals
New research changes what we know about dinosaur predators
- A comprehensive new analysis of 18 dinosaur species has revealed that several of the giant prehistoric predators had weaker bites than previously assumed.
- Researchers, including those from the University of Bristol, found that Tyrannosaurus rex had skulls optimised for powerful, crushing bites, similar to modern crocodiles.
- In contrast, others such as spinosaurus and allosaurs possessed weaker bites, better suited for slashing and ripping flesh, akin to a Komodo dragon.
- The study, published in Current Biology, used 3D X-ray scanning technology to analyse skull mechanics and quantify bite strength across the species.
- This biomechanical diversity indicates that giant carnivorous dinosaurs followed different evolutionary paths, leading to a wider range of feeding strategies than often thought.