Cannibalism and Feeding Habits of Dinosaurs Essays -- Exploratory Essa

Cannibalism and Feeding Habits of DinosaursCannibalism is a long-standing taboo in our society the thought of humans preying on early(a) humans for a food source disgusts and astounds us. Though the practice is non common amongst modern day humans there is some establish to suggest that ancient humans resorted to such measures, and a recent stripping in Madagascar attests to the possibility that some carnivorous dinosaurs fed on their confess species (Perkins, 2003). Majungatholus atopus roamed the plains of northwestern Madagascar about 70 million years ago during the fresh Cretaceous (Perkins, 2003 Rogers et al, 2003). The discovery of 21 tooth-marked elements originating from two Majungatholus atopus individuals suggests evidence that the dinosaur supplemented its diet by feeding on its own dead or hunting them (Rogers et al, 2003). It cannot be confirmed whether they were purely scavengers, hunters, or both. Scientists atomic number 18 certain that the marks ar not the doing of any other predator because the teeth marks argon not consistent with any other cognize species that lived in the area. but one other theropod that inhabited the area during the time Majungatholus atopus did, Masiakasaurus knopfleri, had teeth and bite marks too small to have caused these markings. Two man-sized crocodile species also shared the same ecosystem but their teeth were too blunt and too irregularly spaced to have produced the narrow grooves found on the Majungatholus bones(Perkins, 2003). The tooth marks on at least nine Majungatholus elements attest to intertooth spacing in the perpetrators jaw and denticle drag patterns consistent enough to reap a compelling case for Majungatholus feeding on other Majungatholus (Rogers et al, 2003).The discove... ...ories of why dinosaurs went extinct abound, and as there is no theory yet to be truly confirmed as the right one, my theory of dinosaur cannibalism is also purely anecdotal. The discovery of the cannib alistic Majungatholus atopus in Madagascar is an important scientific pose because it confirms a long-standing theory of cannibalism among certain carnivorous dinosaurs. Behavioral patterns of extinct animals are difficult to establish however, these bones give authentication to previous unsupported beliefs about the ancient feeding practices of some dinosaurs. A sandwich is a sandwich, but a manwich is a meal-Jeffery DahmerReferencesPerkins, Sid.2003 Family Meal Cannibal dinosaur known by its bones. Science News, vol.163 p.211 Rogers,Raymond et al. 2003. Cannibalism in Madagascan dinosaur Majungatholus atopus. Nature, vol.422 pp.515-518.