How many teeth were believed to be present in the dentary bone of *Xiaotingia zhengi*?
Answer
Fewer than 10 teeth
The configuration of the jaw apparatus provides insight into the diet and evolutionary stage of *Xiaotingia*. The dentary, which forms the lower jaw, is reported to have held fewer than 10 teeth. This reduced count, coupled with teeth morphology similar to that found in basal birds, distinguishes it from more primitive theropods which typically possessed a greater number of teeth, suggesting a dietary shift toward smaller prey items like insects.
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