homehome Home chatchat Notifications


T-rex and other top dinosaur predators had serrated teeth to butcher their prey

A novel analysis reveals T-rex and other theropods – the top land predators that dominated the planet for no less than 165 million years – had teeth of unrivaled complexity. The long and powerful teeth were serrated like steak knives to disembowel prey easily, while on the inside tissue supported the teeth for maximum resistance against […]

Tibi Puiu
July 28, 2015 @ 6:37 am

share Share

A novel analysis reveals T-rex and other theropods – the top land predators that dominated the planet for no less than 165 million years – had teeth of unrivaled complexity. The long and powerful teeth were serrated like steak knives to disembowel prey easily, while on the inside tissue supported the teeth for maximum resistance against the powerful sheering stress that followed each bite.

Gorgosaurus feeding on a young Corythosaurus in Alberta, Canada, 75 million years ago. Image: Danielle Dufault
Gorgosaurus feeding on a young Corythosaurus in Alberta, Canada, 75 million years ago. Image: Danielle Dufault

Over millions of years, theropods developed an unrivaled arsenal. Though not very fast, these huge beasts would overwhelm any prey, no matter how large, which had the misfortune of encountering a theropod. Among the fossil teeth analyzed by the University of Toronto Mississauga paleontologist Kirstin Brink and colleagues were those belonging to the smaller Coelophysis and bird-like Troodon, but also large predators Allosaurus, Gorgosaurus, Daspletosaurus, Tyrannosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus, along with those of semi-aquatic Spinosaurus.

“[..] The serrations were most efficient for piercing flesh and gripping it while ripping off a chunk of meat, called the ‘puncture and pull’ feeding style,” Brink said.

A detail of a thin section through the tooth of a large theropod, Gorgosaurus, from Alberta. Credit: Danielle Default
A detail of a thin section through the tooth of a large theropod, Gorgosaurus, from Alberta. Credit: Danielle Dufault

The researchers carefully sectioned fossilized teeth, either alone or confined in the ribs and other bones of prey, then used a scanning electron microscope and a synchrotron. This offered an unprecedented view both of the meat eaters’ tooth structure and chemical composition. Like a very strong saw, the teeth of the T-rex and its cousins were disposed of in a manner that allowed each teeth to be supported by those surrounding it. When and if a tooth happened to come out, it would be replaced. T-rex, for instance, took two and a half years to grow a new tooth.

“It could take up to two years for a tooth to grow back in the big theropods like T. rex. Therefore, having specially reinforced teeth means less tooth breakage and less gaps in the jaw, leading to more efficient eating,” Brink said.

Today, only one animal with serrated teeth is still alive: the infamous Komodo dragon. The 10-foot-long Indonesian lizard has teeth that closely resemble those of ancient theropods. It uses them to chomp huge prey, life buffalo. Interestingly enough, the Komodo isn’t a descendant of dinosaurs and evolved its serrated dentures independently.

share Share

Scientists Use Math to Show New Type of Particles Once Considered Impossible Might Be Real

Researchers uncover new particle behaviors that break the two-type mold of quantum mechanics.

Hobbyist Builds AI-Assisted Rifle Robot Using ChatGPT: "We're under attack from the front left and front right. Respond accordingly"

The viral video sparked ethical debates about the broader implications of AI weapons.

Drones Helps Researchers Uncover a Lost Mega-Fortress in Georgia

Researchers have long known about the formidable scale of the Dmanisis Gora fortress, but a recent study has unveiled its true magnitude. Using drone-based imagery and photogrammetry, a team of scientists has revealed that this 3,000-year-old structure in the Caucasus Mountains spans an astonishing 60 to 80 hectares. A cultural crossroads The South Caucasus is […]

Eating more peanuts, herbs, and spices can boost your gut microbiome

A small change in diets can make a big difference for your health.

Did your rent just surge? Blame this price-fixing AI landlord costing Americans $3.6 billion annually

AI is changing the housing market and renters are paying the price.

Melting Antarctic Ice Could Awaken 100 Hidden Volcanoes

As ice recedes, hidden volcanoes under Antarctica awaken, reshaping predictions for climate change.

This Hornet Can Drink 80% Alcohol Without Ever Getting Drunk and Scientists Finally Know Why

Oriental hornets never get intoxicated with alcohol no matter how strong the alcohol or how long they drink.

200 Jurassic-era dinosaur footprints unearthed on UK’s largest dinosaur highway

Thanks to a storm, these dinosaur footprints managed to remain preserved for 166 million years.

The Soviets sent most of its intellectuals to remote gulags. Decades later, those areas became more prosperous

A new study reveals that regions near Soviet GULAG camps are more prosperous today, thanks to the unintended legacy of intellectual capital of educated prisoners

Strange Painted Penis Bone Found in England Reveals Rituals From Roman Britain

An enigmatic artifact suggests ancient rituals tied to fertility and agricultural cycles.