If
you want to know the secret behind the success of Tyrannosaurus rex and
their dinosaur cousins who also is a meat eater, consider the teeth.
Scientists
on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 has published a comprehensive analysis of the
teeth of carnivorous dinosaur group called theropods, reveal unique
serration structure which allows them chew the meat and bones of their
large prey effectively.
Theropods
are the largest land predators on Earth. They first appeared about 200
years ago and is the dominant land creatures that eat meat until the era
of dinosaurs ended 65 million years ago.
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| A boy looks inside the skull a Tyrannosaurus Rex replica at the Egidio Feruglio Museum in the Argentina's Patagonian city of Trelew, May 18, 2014. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1KHTOU4) |
Research
involving six species of theropod teeth reveal their complexity
previously unknown. Network internal teeth are arranged so that adds to
the power and extend the life of bergeriri teeth like steak knives to
enable them to digest other dinosaurs.
A
paleontologist of University of Toronto Mississauga, Kirstin Brink said
existing fossil shows that the teeth of T. rex could crush bones. Teeth
found embedded in the bones and bone fragments prey out of the dirt
that has become fossilized.
"The
most efficient cam latches to stab or cut meat and grabbed him as he
tore the meat, which is known for its 'puncture and pull' style of
eating," Brink said.
The
researchers analyzed the pieces of fossilized teeth using a microscope
and a powerful tool that can show the chemical properties of the teeth.
They
examined teeth from ancient Coelophysis tend to be small; Troodon that
resembles a bird; large predator Allosaurus, Gorgosaurus,
Daspletosaurus, Tyrannosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus; and Spinosaurus
large and semi-aquatic.
The teeth of Tyrannosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus have length up to 23 cm.
"In
theropods, their bigger and deeper teeth than envisaged, making the
teeth stronger and last longer, and less likely to be damaged or wear
out," said paleontologist Robert Reisz.
Dinosaur teeth can continue to grow throughout their lives. If one tooth broken, then the new tooth will grow.
"It
took until about two years so that the tooth can be re-grown in large
theropods like T. rex. Therefore, with specially strong teeth means
fewer and fewer broken tooth gap in the jaw, and enables an efficient
way of eating," Brink said.
Komodo
dragons, giant lizards, whose size reached 3 meters of Indonesia, is
the sole surviving reptilian teeth serration similar to theropod teeth
though teeth that evolved independently of dinosaurs, said Brink. This
research was published in the Scientific Reports journal. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | VOA NEWS]
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