Head-biting behavior in theropod dinosaurs: Paleopathological evidence

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Tanke, D.
  • Currie, P. J.

• Cranial material of Sinraptor dongi (Upper Jurassic, Xinjiang, China), Gorgosaurus libratus, Daspletosaurus torosus (Upper Cretaceous, Alberta, Canada), and other large theropod dinosaurs exhibit similar paleopathological anomalies indicative of aggressive intra- or interspecific biting. Tooth strike trauma includes osseous lesions caused by solitary or multiple tooth punctures, or by dragging or gouging the tooth tips across the surfaces of cranial elements. Many of these lesions were undergoing active healing at the time of death. One isolated tyrannosaurid dentary bears a broken off and embedded tooth tip of another tyrannosaur. Comparison with unhealed large theropod toothmarks on prey bone suggests that sublethal wounds of these types were caused by other large theropods, possibly rival conspecifics. This may indicate aggressive head or face-biting behavior in certain theropod families. Other associated traumatic osteopathy typified as localized rib and fibula fractures were observed but cannot be directly correlated with violent intra-or interspecific behavior. Healed and healing bit wounds of the head may be related to a number of factors. Establishment of dominance within a pack and territorial behavior are considered as two of the most likely causes. Study of paleopathologies is demonstrated to be a useful tool for understanding dinosaur behavior.

• Date created

  1998

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Head-biting behavior
  • Theropod dinosaurs
  • Paleopathological anomalies

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R34T6FJ1P

• License

  © 1998 Oekom Verlag. This version...