2011/04/13 by R. Ernesto Blanco, Andrés Rinderknecht, Gustavo Lecuona · 24 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Bat Biology and Ecology Studies #Physiological and biochemical adaptations #Rodent #Bite force quotient #Skull #Digging #Biology #Zoology #Anatomy #Geography #Ecology #Archaeology
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.2011.00265.x
published in Lethaia 45(2), 157-163 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 2011/04/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Blanco R.E., Rinderknecht, A. & Lecuona, G. 2011: The bite force of the largest fossil rodent (Hystricognathi, Caviomorpha, Dinomyidae). Lethaia, Vol. 45, pp. 157–163. An exceptionally well-preserved skull of the largest fossil rodent Josephoartigasia monesi allows the first analysis of the bite mechanics of this group of South American giant rodents. In this study, we reconstructed the main anatomical features of the skull of this Pliocene rodent, relating them to the bite force at incisors. Bite force was estimated using three different techniques. Two methods suggest that bite forces at incisors of around 1000 N were possible for these mammals. However, the incisors seem to be stronger than expected for this bite force implying that the bite forces may have been greater than 3000 N. We consider three hypotheses: allometric effects, teeth digging or defence against predators, to explain our results. □Bite force, Dinomyidae, incisors, largest rodent, Pliocene.