How are the maxillary teeth of *Xiongguanlong* described compared to later tyrannosaurs?
Answer
They are labiolingually narrow and more blade-like.
The maxillary teeth, located further back in the upper jaw of *Xiongguanlong*, exhibit a form optimized for cutting flesh rather than crushing bone. They are characterized as being labiolingually narrow, giving them a more blade-like profile, which contrasts with the typically more conical crowns seen in later tyrannosaurs like *Tyrannosaurus*. Although they do possess serrations on both edges (carinae), these serrations are small and block-shaped, supporting the interpretation that *Xiongguanlong* was adapted for precision tearing and slicing prey rather than pure bone-crushing power.
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