Tyrannosaurid Paleobiology (Life of the Past)

Main subject categories: • Tyrannosaurid Paleobiology • TyrannosauridaeThe opening of an exhibit focused on "Jane," a beautifully preserved tyrannosaur collected by the Burpee Museum of Natural History, was the occasion for an international symposium on tyrannosaur paleobiology. This volume, drawn from the symposium, includes studies of the tyrannosaurids Chingkankousaurus fragilis and "Sir William" and the generic status of Nanotyrannus; theropod teeth, pedal proportions, brain size, and craniocervical function; soft tissue reconstruction, including that of "Jane"; paleopathology and tyrannosaurid claws; dating the "Jane" site; and tyrannosaur feeding and hunting strategies. Tyrannosaurid Paleobiology highlights the far ranging and vital state of current tyrannosaurid dinosaur research and discovery.“Despite being discovered over 100 years ago, Tyrannosaurus rex and its kin still inspire researchers to ask fundamental questions about what the best known dinosaur was like as a living, breathing animal. Tyrannosaurid Paleobiology present a series of wide-ranging and innovative studies that cover diverse topics such as how tyrannosaurs attacked and dismembered prey, the shapes and sizes of feet and brains, and what sorts of injuries individuals sustained and lived with. There are also examinations of the diversity of tyrannosaurs, determinations of exactly when different kinds lived and died, and what goes into making a museum exhibit featuring tyrannosaurs. This volume clearly shows that there is much more to the study of dinosaurs than just digging up and cataloguing old bones.” — Donald M. Henderson, Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology Phylogenetic Revision Of Chingkankousaurus Fragilis, A Forgotten Tyrannosauroid From The Late Cretaceous Of China / Stephen L. Brusatte, David W.e. Hone, And Xu Xing -- The Case For Nanotyrannus / Peter Larson -- Preliminary Analysis Of A Sub-adult Tyrannosaurid Skeleton From The Judith River Formation Of Petroleum County, Montana / Walter W. Stein And Michael Triebold -- Internal Structure Of Tooth Serrations / William L. Abler -- Feet Of The Fierce (and Not So Fierce) : Pedal Proportions In Large Theropods, Other Non-avian Dinosaurs, And Large Ground Birds / James O. Farlow, Thomas R. Holtz Jr., Trevor H. Worthy, And Ralph E. Chapman -- Relative Size Of Brain And Cerebrum In Tyrannosaurid Dinosaurs : An Analysis Using Brain-endocast Quantitative Relationships In Extant Alligators / Grant R. Hurlburt, Ryan C. Ridgley, And Lawrence M. Witmer -- Jane, In The Flesh : The State Of Life-reconstruction In Paleoart / Tyler Keillor -- A Comparative Analysis Of Reconstructed Jaw Musculature And Mechanics Of Some Large Theropods / Ralph E. Molnar -- Tyrannosaurid Craniocervical Mobility : A Preliminary Qualitative Assessment / Tanya Samman -- Clawing Their Way To The Top : Tyrannosaurid Pathology And Lifestyle / Bruce M. Rothschild -- Brodie Abscess Involving A Tyrannosaur Phalanx : Imaging And Implications / Christopher P. Vittore, Md, And Michael D. Henderson -- Using Pollen, Leaves, And Paleomagnetism To Date A Juvenile Tyrannosaurid In Upper Cretaceous Rock / William F. Harrison, Douglas J. Nichols, Michael D. Henderson, And Reed P. Scherer -- The Biomechanics Of A Plausible Hunting Strategy For Tyrannosaurus Rex / David A. Krauss And John M. Robinson -- A Closer Look At The Hypothesis Of Scavenging Vs. Predation By Tyrannosaurus Rex / Kenneth Carpenter -- New Evidence Of Predation By A Large Tyrannosaurid / Nate L. Murphy, Kenneth Carpenter, And David Trexler. Edited By J. Michael Parrish, Ralph E. Molnar, Philip J. Currie, And Eva B. Koppelhus. Includes Index. This Volume Had Its Genesis In A Conference Held In Rockford, Illinois, On September 16-18, 2005, Titled 'the Origin, Systematics, And Paleobiology Of Tyrannosauridae,' And Jointly Sponsored By The Burpee Museum Of Natural History And Northern Illinois University--introduction. Mode Of Access: World Wide Web. Drawn from a 2005 international symposium, these essays explore current tyrannosaurid current research and discoveries regarding Tyrannosaurus rex. The opening of an exhibit focused on "Jane," a beautifully preserved tyrannosaur collected by the Burpee Museum of Natural History, was the occasion for an international symposium on tyrannosaur paleobiology. This volume, drawn from the symposium, includes studies of the tyrannosaurids Chingkankousaurus fragilis and "Sir William" and the generic status of Nanotyrannus ; theropod teeth, pedal proportions, brain size, and craniocervical function; soft tissue reconstruction, including that of "Jane"; paleopathology and tyrannosaurid claws; dating the "Jane" site; and tyrannosaur feeding and hunting strategies. Tyrannosaurid Paleobiology highlights the far ranging and vital state of current tyrannosaurid dinosaur research and discovery. "Despite being discovered over 100 years ago, Tyrannosaurus rex and its kin still inspire researchers to ask fundamental questions about what the best known dinosaur was like as a living, breathing animal. Tyrannosaurid Paleobiology present a series of wide-ranging and innovative studies that cover diverse topics such as how tyrannosaurs attacked and dismembered prey, the shapes and sizes of feet and brains, and what sorts of injuries individuals sustained and lived with. There are also examinations of the diversity of tyrannosaurs, determinations of exactly when different kinds lived and died, and what goes into making a museum exhibit featuring tyrannosaurs. This volume clearly shows that there is much more to the study of dinosaurs than just digging up and cataloguing old bones." —Donald M. Henderson, Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology Cover 1 Contents 6 Contributors 8 Introduction 10 Part 1 Systematics and Descriptions 16 1 Phylogenetic Revision of Chingkankousaurus fragilis, a Forgotten Tyrannosauroid from the Late Cretaceous of China 18 2 The Case for Nanotyrannus 30 3 Preliminary Analysis of a Sub-adult Tyrannosaurid Skeleton from the Judith River Formation of Petroleum County, Montana 70 Part 2 Functional Morphology and Reconstruction 94 4 Internal Structure of Tooth Serrations 96 5 Feet of the Fierce (and Not So Fierce): Pedal Proportions in Large Theropods, Other Non-avian Dinosaurs, and Large Ground Birds 104 6 Relative Size of Brain and Cerebrum in Tyrannosaurid Dinosaurs: An Analysis Using Brain-Endocast Quantitative Relationships in Extant Alligators 150 7 Jane, in the Flesh: The State of Life-Reconstruction in Paleoart 172 8 A Comparative Analysis of Reconstructed Jaw Musculature and Mechanics of Some Large Theropods 192 9 Tyrannosaurid Craniocervical Mobility: A Preliminary Qualitative Assessment 210 Part 3 Paleopathology, Paleoecology, and Taphonomy 224 10 Clawing Their Way to the Top: Tyrannosaurid Pathology and Lifestyle 226 11 Brodie Abscess Involving a Tyrannosaur Phalanx: Imaging and Implications 238 12 Using Pollen, Leaves, and Paleomagnetism to Date a Juvenile Tyrannosaurid in Upper Cretaceous Rock 254 13 The Biomechanics of a Plausible Hunting Strategy for Tyrannosaurus rex 266 14 A Closer Look at the Hypothesis of Scavenging versus Predation by Tyrannosaurus rex 280 15 New Evidence for Predation by a Large Tyrannosaurid 294 Index 302 A 302 B 302 C 303 D 304 E 304 F 304 G 304 H 305 I 305 J 305 K 306 L 306 M 306 N 306 O 307 P 307 Q 307 R 307 S 307 T 308 U 309 V 309 W 309 X 309 Y 309 Z 309 The opening of an exhibit focused on "Jane," a beautifully preserved tyrannosaur collected by the Burpee Museum of Natural History, was the occasion for an international symposium on tyrannosaur paleobiology. This volume, drawn from the symposium, includes studies of the tyrannosaurids Chingkankousaurus fragilis and "Sir William" and the generic status of Nanotyrannus; theropod teeth, pedal proportions, brain size, and craniocervical function; soft tissue reconstruction, including that of "Jane"; paleopathology and tyrannosaurid claws; dating the "Jane" site; and tyrannosaur feeding and hunting strategies. This book highlights the far ranging and vital state of tyrannosaurid dinosaur research and discovery Tyrannosaurid Paleobiology highlights the far ranging and vital state of current tryannosaurid dinosaur research and discovery, addressing many fundamental questions about the life and habits of tyrannosaurs. Were they predators or scavengers? How smart was T. rex? How fas could tyrannosaurs run? Did they have stereoscopic vision? How did their shapes and habits change with growth? This volume confirms the wealth of new scientific information about these ever - fascinating creatures