To what extant bone-crushing specialist were Thylacoleo's bite force estimates sometimes compared?
Answer
Hyenas.
When analyzing the estimated absolute bite force of Thylacoleo carnifex based on biomechanical modeling of its fossil remains, the figures were so high that they were often compared to extant mammals known specifically for their bone-crushing capabilities. Although Thylacoleo was a marsupial and genetically distant from placental carnivores, its sheer force output was suggested to rival or even surpass what is typically attributed to hyenas, which are famous in the modern world for having dentition and bite mechanics designed to shatter bone for marrow access. This comparison highlights the intensity of the force generated by the marsupial lion.
Related Questions
How did Thylacoleo carnifex's dentition differ from slicing canines typical of modern cats?What trace fossils provide undeniable proof of Thylacoleo's bone-crushing capability?What critical metric highlights Thylacoleo's extraordinary bite performance relative to its size?What evolutionary principle explains the parallel development of powerful biting traits in Thylacoleo and placental carnivores?What functional structure allowed Thylacoleo's jaw musculature to translate force effectively into crushing impact?What material advantage did Thylacoleo gain by accessing nutrient-rich marrow via bone fracture?Which feature attached to the skull maximized leverage for Thylacoleo's clamp-down effect?To what extant bone-crushing specialist were Thylacoleo's bite force estimates sometimes compared?What was the primary goal of Thylacoleo's bite strategy, contrasted with prolonged grappling predators?If modeling a BFU of 100 for a comparable skull architecture, what was Thylacoleo's consistent relative bite force unit (BFU)?