Cannibalism and Feeding Habits of Dinosaurs Essays -- Exploratory Essa

Cannibalism and Feeding Habits of Dinosaurs Cannibalism is a long-standing taboo in our society; the thought of humans preying on other humans for a food source disgusts and astounds us. Though the practice is not common amongst modern day humans there is some evidence to suggest that ancient humans resorted to such measures, and a recent discovery in Madagascar attests to the possibility that some carnivorous dinosaurs fed on their own species (Perkins, 2003). Majungatholus atopus roamed the plains of northwestern Madagascar about 70 million years ago during the Late 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 are certain that the marks are not the doing of any other predator because the teeth marks are not consistent with any other known species that lived in the area. Only 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 large crocodile species also shared the same ecosystem but their teeth were â€Å"too blunt and too irregularly spaced to have produced the narrow grooves found on the Majungathol us 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 make 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 â€Å"right one†, my theory of dinosaur cannibalism is also purely anecdotal. The discovery of the cannibalistic Majungatholus atopus in Madagascar is an important scientific find 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 unfounded beliefs about the ancient feeding practices of some dinosaurs. â€Å"A sandwich is a sandwich, but a manwich is a meal† -Jeffery Dahmer References Perkins, 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.