T. rex’s incredible biting force came from its stiff lower jaw

ScienceNews.org ^ | May 7, 2021 | Sid Perkins

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T. rex’s incredible biting force came from its stiff lower jaw

A small bone in the mandible helped brace an otherwise flexible joint

The fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex could generate tremendous bone-crushing bite forces thanks to a stiff lower jaw. That stiffness stemmed from a boomerang-shaped bit of bone that braced what would have been an otherwise flexible jawbone, a new analysis suggests.

Unlike mammals, reptiles and their close kin have a joint dubbed the intramandibular joint within their lower jawbone, or mandible. New computer simulations show that with a bone spanning the IMJ, T. Rex could have generated bite forces of more than 6 metric tons, or about the weight of a large male African elephant, researchers reported April 27 at the virtual annual meeting of the American Association of Anatomy.

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Two simulated T. rex jawbones reveal how a small bone (not visible) that spans a joint (white arrow) provides for a strong bite. In a version where that bone is not intact (top), the jawbone flexes, which prevents stress induced by a bite at one tooth (black arrow) from transferring effectively across the joint. But in a jawbone in which that bone is intact (bottom), the more rigid joint transfers stresses effectively, enabling greater bite forces.John Fortner

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Isn’t that how modern day alligators bite? They can bite down and cut you in half but you can hold their jaws shut easily.

[P.O.E.]

I would have guessed it was his ability to write catchy tunes:

[newfreep]

But could T-Rex bang a gong?

[PIF]

6 metric tons is 13,227 pounds of bite force. Saltwater crocks which have the greatest bite force of all living animals generates only 4,000 pounds of force.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Not after he let Gloria Jones drive.

[Empire_of_Liberty]

There goes the patent on the “Vice Grip”.

[tsomer]

Man! `Am I glad they’re all dead!

Meanwhile, let’s ROCK!

https://youtu.be/FApi-kFFqUI

[P.O.E.]

A bit of "wtf 70s?" from his TV show:

"I Love to Boogie"

[PGalt]

That’s why we have to keep a stiff upper lip.

[PGalt]

ad/song BUMP

[BobL]

“There goes the patent on the “Vice Grip”.”

Nice! My favorite hand tool of all time. Too bad the ‘woke’ crowd has no idea what it is.

(for power tools it always was a Makita, but my 4.5” grinder is giving it a good run for the money)

[central_va]

It’s important to know this, why?

[newfreep]

Looks like Gloria went to "Big Mike's" School of Beauty

[ETL]

Who the hell said it was “important” to know it?

[central_va]

Someone spent money studying this. Weird...

[ETL]

Thinking human beings are naturally curious about the world around them, past and present. Moreover, discoveries like this can sometimes lead to practical applications.

[Ahithophel]

Who the hell said it was “important” to know it?

Keeping a stiff upper lip in the face of a stiff lower jaw is what's important perhaps.

[central_va]

Wow, I know studying the jaws of extinct reptilian giants is so vital to the continued existence of humanity.