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It’s out! I'm glad to present a new paper, which derives from my Masters dissertation. We explore pterosaur jaw musculature and bite force, attempting to test previous dietary hypotheses. Although these studies have been common for dinosaurs, this is a first for pterosaurs! [1/4]
![It’s out! I'm glad to present a new paper, which derives from my Masters dissertation. We explore pterosaur jaw musculature and bite force, attempting to test previous dietary hypotheses. Although these studies have been common for dinosaurs, this is a first for pterosaurs! [1/4]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EsSHYHMXcAAldSi.jpg "It’s out! I'm glad to present a new paper, which derives from my Masters dissertation. We explore pterosaur jaw musculature and bite force, attempting to test previous dietary hypotheses. Although these studies have been common for dinosaurs, this is a first for pterosaurs! [1/4]")
These are the estimates of bite force (top) and bite force quotient (bottom), which is a relative bite force value corrected for body mass. We corroborate the views of Pteranodon, Nyctosaurus, Anhanguera and Tropeognathus as fish-eaters, with fast but relatively weak bites [2/4]
![These are the estimates of bite force (top) and bite force quotient (bottom), which is a relative bite force value corrected for body mass. We corroborate the views of Pteranodon, Nyctosaurus, Anhanguera and Tropeognathus as fish-eaters, with fast but relatively weak bites [2/4]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EsSHjLRW4AYEcXT.jpg "These are the estimates of bite force (top) and bite force quotient (bottom), which is a relative bite force value corrected for body mass. We corroborate the views of Pteranodon, Nyctosaurus, Anhanguera and Tropeognathus as fish-eaters, with fast but relatively weak bites [2/4]")
We corroborate hard-plant material consumption for Tapejara, generalism for Tupuxuara (and extend this to Caupedactylus), and durophagy for Dsungaripterus. As a surprise, very strong bites for Thalassodromeus suggest that it, too, could have have on shellfish. [3/4]
![We corroborate hard-plant material consumption for Tapejara, generalism for Tupuxuara (and extend this to Caupedactylus), and durophagy for Dsungaripterus. As a surprise, very strong bites for Thalassodromeus suggest that it, too, could have have on shellfish. [3/4]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EsSH8jCWMAA-QRC.jpg "We corroborate hard-plant material consumption for Tapejara, generalism for Tupuxuara (and extend this to Caupedactylus), and durophagy for Dsungaripterus. As a surprise, very strong bites for Thalassodromeus suggest that it, too, could have have on shellfish. [3/4]")
Here are the Romualdo pterosaurs, by the wonderful @7BrumAs. Tapejara is eating Klitzschophyllites fruits. Tropeognathus is catching a coelacanth, while Anhanguera catches something smaller. Thalassodromeus is eating shellfish. Link for the paper: https://tinyurl.com/y332mfrs [4/4]
![Here are the Romualdo pterosaurs, by the wonderful @7BrumAs. Tapejara is eating Klitzschophyllites fruits. Tropeognathus is catching a coelacanth, while Anhanguera catches something smaller. Thalassodromeus is eating shellfish. Link for the paper: https://tinyurl.com/y332mfrs [4/4]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EsSIVFWW8AIAvJ6.jpg "Here are the Romualdo pterosaurs, by the wonderful @7BrumAs. Tapejara is eating Klitzschophyllites fruits. Tropeognathus is catching a coelacanth, while Anhanguera catches something smaller. Thalassodromeus is eating shellfish. Link for the paper: https://tinyurl.com/y332mfrs [4/4]")
Many thanks to @7BrumAS for his amazing art <3 <3 and to Fabiana Costa and Alexander Kellner, coauthors, for supervising me.
