How do Abelisaurid skulls, including that of *Xenotarsosaurus*, generally compare to Tyrannosaurid skulls?
Deeper, relatively shorter snout.
A key differentiation between the Abelisauridae lineage, to which *Xenotarsosaurus* belongs, and the northern Tyrannosauridae lineage lies in cranial architecture. While tyrannosaurids are known for their long and robust snouts, abelisaurids evolved a skull shape that was comparatively deeper but featured a shorter snout length. This difference in skull morphology implies distinct bite mechanics and likely specialized prey targeting or feeding strategies. This structural divergence highlights that despite fulfilling similar apex predator roles, the evolutionary solutions developed by the southern and northern large carnivores were not identical, demonstrating specialized adaptations to their respective environments.
