The osteology of Irritator
A reappraisal of the cranial and mandibular osteology of the spinosaurid Irritator challengeri (Dinosauria: Theropoda)
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Irritator's New Mouth
- Thread starter Paleoguy
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Irritator (and most likely other spinosaurs) are now just big toothy pelicans.
Hi, co-author of the Irritator paper here.
In the paper we don't really make comparisons to animals like pelicans. While in effect it may have looked a little similar, the jaw mechanics are quite different. The front of the jaw in Irritator is not know, so we don't really know for sure how that would react to the gape widening.
Besides those two videos already linked, I also made a third video that shows what's happening with the jaw and why it widens its gape when opening.
In the paper we don't really make comparisons to animals like pelicans. While in effect it may have looked a little similar, the jaw mechanics are quite different. The front of the jaw in Irritator is not know, so we don't really know for sure how that would react to the gape widening.
Besides those two videos already linked, I also made a third video that shows what's happening with the jaw and why it widens its gape when opening.
Nice to see you, an actual paleontologist, engaging with the JWE forums!