Dinosauro teropodoen hortzak eta dietan duten islapena

Abstract

Isolated theropod teeth are the most common elements of this dinosaur clade found in the fossil record. This has led to the development of different qualitative, quantitative and phylogenetic methodologies in the study of isolated theropod teeth. This research has applications in systematic palaeontology, palaeobiodiversity, palaeoecology, and palaeo-biogeography. Moreover, the theropod teeth can inform us about the diet of these dinosaurs. Ziphodont (blade-like) teeth are suitable for cutting flesh; this dentition type is the ancestral theropod condition. Pachydont (banana-like) teeth show greater strength than ziphodont teeth. Pachydonty is present in carnivorous theropods that are at the top of the food chain and are able to crush bones and make wide incisions in the flesh. Conidont (conical) teeth are suitable for drilling and hold-ing prey. Conidonty developed in theropods with ichthyophagous, herbivorous, and insectivorous diets. Folidonty (leaf-shaped lateral crowns) occurs in theropods consuming distinct types of food, such as carnivores, insectivores, omnivores, or herbivores, including species of different clades. Edentulism has developed independently in several different theropod clades. Many hypotheses have been proposed to address the origin of edentulism in theropods; it is undeniable that a tooth-less beak can perform many functions and has therefore been an important evolutionary innovation in non-avian theropods and birds. In fact, toothless birds are the only theropods left alive today.