Reconstruction of the adductor chamber and predicted bite force in pterodactyloids (Pterosauria)

2020/11/03 by Rodrigo V. Pêgas, Fabiana Rodrigues Costa, Alexander W. A. Kellner · 1 voice · 20 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Adductor muscles #Anatomy #Biology #Bite force quotient #Ecology #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Evolutionary biology #Extant taxon #Ichthyology and Marine Biology #Osteology #Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology #Skull #Zoology

paper · open access · doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa163

published in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 193(2), 602-635 (Oxford University Press)

openalex publication_date 2020/11/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

Abstract The reconstruction of jaw muscles is critical in establishing potential cranial functions; however, myological studies of extinct groups that have no descendants are difficult to perform and test. This is particularly true for pterosaurs, a group of extinct flying reptiles that present a plethora of cranial morphologies, suggesting different functions and feeding habits. Here we present a first attempt to reconstruct the adductor musculature of the pterodactyloid skull in detail, using osteological correlates and the extant phylogenetic bracketing method. Using these reconstructions, we estimate bite force for nine selected species and investigate implications for potential dietary habits.

Citations

• The Early Evolution of Archosaurs: Relationships and the Origin of Major Clades

Cited by

• Flesh and bone: The musculature and cervical movements of pterosaurs
• On the systematics and phylogenetic nomenclature of the Ornithocheiriformes (Pterosauria, Pteranodontoidea)
• A regurgitalite reveals a new filter-feeding pterosaur from the Santana Group
• Osteology and functional morphology of a transitional pterosaur Dearc sgiathanach from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) of Scotland
• Reconstructing paleotrophic relationships on the Brazilian Romualdo Formation (Lower Cretaceous) through mercury analysis in fossils
• Pterosaur [wikipedia]
• Osteology of an exceptionally well-preserved tapejarid skeleton from Brazil: Revealing the anatomy of a curious pterodactyloid clade. [europepmc]
• New insights into pterosaur cranial anatomy: X-ray imaging reveals palatal structure and evolutionary trends. [europepmc]
• Osteology and functional morphology of a transitional pterosaur Dearc sgiathanach from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) of Scotland. [europepmc]
• A regurgitalite reveals a new filter-feeding pterosaur from the Santana Group. [europepmc]
• Resistance of cervical vertebrae in response to muscular stresses in pterosaurs: implications for foraging habits and skeletal pneumatization. [europepmc]

Discussions

• If ever you end up in early Cretaceous Brazil, do your best to not be bitten by Thalassodromeus. It would not be fun. Figure from this pterosaur bite force study @rv-pegas.bsky.social and colleagues: [bsky, 38 points, 1 comments]

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