How Triceratops got its face: An update on the functional evolution of the ceratopsian head.
Anat Rec (Hoboken)
; 306(7): 1951-1968, 2023 07.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36883781
ABSTRACT
Ceratopsian dinosaurs arguably show some of the most extravagant external cranial morphology across all Dinosauria. For over a century, ceratopsian dinosaurs have inspired a multitude of cranial functional studies as more discoveries continued to depict a larger picture of the enormous diversity of these animals. The iconic horns and bony frills in many ceratopsians portray a plethora of shapes, sizes, and arrangements across taxa, and their overall feeding apparatus show the development of unique specializations previously unseen in large herbivores. Here, I give a brief updated review of the many functional studies investigating different aspects of the ceratopsian head. The functional role of the horns and bony frills is explored, with an overview of studies investigating their potential for weaponization or defense in either intraspecific or anti-predatory combat, among other things. A review of studies pertaining to the ceratopsian feeding apparatus is also presented here, with analyses of studies exploring their beak and snout morphology, dentition and tooth wear, cranial musculature with associated skull anatomy, and feeding biomechanics.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Dinosaurios
/
Fósiles
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article