What foundational role does Xiongguanlong's diet represent in tyrannosaur evolution?
Answer
Early specialization for medium-to-small carnivory
The diet of Xiongguanlong demonstrates an important foundational stage in the evolution of the tyrannosaur feeding strategy: an early specialization centered on medium-to-small carnivory. This shows that the capacity for extreme specialization toward massive prey was a trait that developed later in the lineage, rather than being inherent from the start. Xiongguanlong managed resources lower down the size scale, laying essential groundwork for the future success of the family.
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