A unique predator in a unique ecosystem: modelling the apex predator within a Late Cretaceous crocodyliform-dominated fauna from Brazil

Registro completo de metadados
MetadadosDescriçãoIdioma
Autor(es): dc.contributorUniversidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)-
Autor(es): dc.contributorUniversity of Birmingham-
Autor(es): dc.contributorStony Brook University-
Autor(es): dc.contributorUniversidade de São Paulo (USP)-
Autor(es): dc.creatorMontefeltro, Felipe C. [UNESP]-
Autor(es): dc.creatorLautenschlager, Stephan-
Autor(es): dc.creatorGodoy, Pedro L.-
Autor(es): dc.creatorFerreira, Gabriel S.-
Autor(es): dc.creatorButler, Richard J.-
Data de aceite: dc.date.accessioned2022-02-22T00:25:19Z-
Data de disponibilização: dc.date.available2022-02-22T00:25:19Z-
Data de envio: dc.date.issued2020-12-11-
Data de envio: dc.date.issued2020-12-11-
Data de envio: dc.date.issued2020-08-01-
Fonte completa do material: dc.identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1111/joa.13192-
Fonte completa do material: dc.identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/11449/198715-
Fonte: dc.identifier.urihttp://educapes.capes.gov.br/handle/11449/198715-
Descrição: dc.descriptionTheropod dinosaurs were relatively scarce in the Late Cretaceous ecosystems of southeast Brazil. Instead, hypercarnivorous crocodyliforms known as baurusuchids were abundant and probably occupied the ecological role of apex predators. Baurusuchids exhibited a series of morphological adaptations hypothesized to be associated with this ecological role, but quantitative biomechanical analyses of their morphology have so far been lacking. Here, we employ a biomechanical modelling approach, applying finite element analysis (FEA) to models of the skull and mandibles of a baurusuchid specimen. This allows us to characterize the craniomandibular apparatus of baurusuchids, as well as to compare the functional morphology of the group with that of other archosaurian carnivores, such as theropods and crocodylians. Our results support the ecological role of baurusuchids as specialized apex predators in the continental Late Cretaceous ecosystems of South America. With a relatively weak bite force (~600 N), the predation strategies of baurusuchids likely relied on other morphological specializations, such as ziphodont dentition and strong cervical musculature. Comparative assessments of the stress distribution and magnitude of scaled models of other predators (the theropod Allosaurus fragilis and the living crocodylian Alligator mississippiensis) consistently show different responses to loadings under the same functional scenarios, suggesting distinct predatory behaviors for these animals. The unique selective pressures in the arid to semi-arid Late Cretaceous ecosystems of southeast Brazil, which were dominated by crocodyliforms, possibly drove the emergence and evolution of the biomechanical features seen in baurusuchids, which are distinct from those previously reported for other predatory taxa.-
Descrição: dc.descriptionFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)-
Descrição: dc.descriptionNational Science Foundation-
Descrição: dc.descriptionLaboratório de Paleontologia e Evolução de Ilha Solteira UNESP-
Descrição: dc.descriptionSchool of Geography Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham-
Descrição: dc.descriptionDepartment of Anatomical Sciences Stony Brook University-
Descrição: dc.descriptionDepartamento de Biologia Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto Universidade de São Paulo-
Descrição: dc.descriptionLaboratório de Paleontologia e Evolução de Ilha Solteira UNESP-
Descrição: dc.descriptionFAPESP: FAPESP 2019/10620-2-
Descrição: dc.descriptionNational Science Foundation: NSF DEB 1754596-
Formato: dc.format323-333-
Idioma: dc.languageen-
Relação: dc.relationJournal of Anatomy-
???dc.source???: dc.sourceScopus-
Palavras-chave: dc.subjectBaurusuchidae-
Palavras-chave: dc.subjectfinite element analysis-
Palavras-chave: dc.subjectNotosuchia-
Título: dc.titleA unique predator in a unique ecosystem: modelling the apex predator within a Late Cretaceous crocodyliform-dominated fauna from Brazil-
Tipo de arquivo: dc.typelivro digital-
Aparece nas coleções:Repositório Institucional - Unesp

Não existem arquivos associados a este item.