Rex Opened Its Massive Jaw Very Wide to Munch on Dinosaurs

The researchers said that the feeding style and dietary preferences of dinosaurs were having a close association with how wide they can open their jaws.

Paleontologist Dr. Stephen Lautenschlager from the University of Bristol has conducted a very interesting study on the strength of Tyrannosaurus Rex’s jaw. Stephan Lautenschlager explained during a press release, “Theropod dinosaurs, such aTyrannosaurus rex or Allosaurus, are often depicted with widely-opened jaws, presumably to emphasize their carnivorous nature”.

The Allosaurus – a massive-headed, short-armed, two-legged dinosaur – opened its jaws wider than a right angle, from 79 to 92 degrees.

The T-Rex’s bite was not the widest, but it was the most vicious. As expected T-Rex tops the list.

Three members of the theropods family of dinosaurs were studied in the investigation: Allosaurus fragilis a bipedal predator, Tyrannosaurus rex, a bipedal carnivore and Erlikosaurus andrewsi, a herbivore.

You might call the Jurassic Period meat-eating dinosaur, the Allosaurus, the ultimate big mouth.

Understanding jaw gape provides further insight into the mysterious lives of dinosaurs, and helps us better understand who could eat what, and how, Lautenschlager said.

The research looked at not only T. rex, but also another huge carnivore, Allosaurus fragilis, and plant eater Erlikosaurus andrewsi.

T. rex reigned as one of the scariest land carnivores throughout history.

“Tyrannosaurus, in comparison, was able to exert continuous muscle force during different gape angles, which would be necessary for an animal biting through thick flesh and crushing bones”. “Yet, up to now, no studies have actually focused on the relation between jaw musculature, feeding style and the maximal possible jaw gape”, said Stephan Lautenschlager from Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences.

The herbivore’s gape was just 45 degrees, equivalent to that of humans. The dinosaur species in the study were also compared to their living relatives, crocodiles and birds.

“All muscles, including those used for closing and opening the jaw, can only stretch a certain amount before they tear”.

Although the optimal angle was also 28, it showed exceptional capabilities present in the more lightly build theropod.

As a result of the study, which measured the dinosaur’s bite mechanism, will allow future researchers to understand and establish niche adaptations for each species.

“This considerably limits how wide an animal can open its jaws and, therefore, how and on what it can feed”, the researchers noted.

The researchers created detailed computer models to simulate jaw opening and closing, while measuring the length changes in the digital muscles.