How did Xiongguanlong's feeding apparatus likely function compared to later giants?
Answer
It was better suited for slicing and tearing softer tissues
The anatomical constraints of basal tyrannosauroids, including Xiongguanlong, suggest that its feeding apparatus was adapted for slicing and shearing softer tissues, which would be typical prey found in smaller or juvenile animals. This contrasts sharply with later tyrannosaurs, whose evolved feeding mechanisms included incredibly thick, robust teeth designed specifically for the high pressures required to crush and penetrate bone. Xiongguanlong's likely reliance on slicing indicates a predatory strategy focused less on bone destruction and more on efficient flesh removal from smaller targets.
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