A few tentative inferences about the mode of feeding in this case
are possible. The sequence of consumption of various fleshy carcass
elements by modern mammalian carnivores is remarkably consistent,
although patterns of bone consumption display more variation
(Blumenschine, 1987). The lightly-built skull and thin, recurved
teeth of Velociraptor do not show any obvious adaptations to
osteophagy and are small in absolute terms compared to the bones
of a Protoceratops. Quadrupedal ornithischians can reasonably be
assumed to have been broadly similar to extant ungulates in the
volumetric distribution of their musculature. We therefore infer that a
velociraptorine feeding upon a ceratopsian might have proceeded in
essentially the same sequence seen in modern, non-osteophagous
mammalian carnivores, with initial consumption of bowel and
hindquarter flesh, followed by forequarter flesh, and finally head
and neck flesh (Blumenschine, 1987). Thus, we consider the presence
of bite marks on the Protoceratops jaw from Bayan Mandahu to
represent late-stage carcass consumption by Velociraptor. This
interpretation is further supported by the fact that the bite marks
are numerous, suggesting repeated bites close to the cortical surface
of the bone. This would probably not have occurred unless the
majority of the available muscle mass had already been stripped off
and the dromaeosaur was feeding close to the bone. The broken tooth
also suggests an instance of significant, although not necessarily very
forceful, tooth–bone contact. This would seem unlikely for an animal
during normal feeding and is reminiscent of the case of tooth breakage
that was previously inferred by Currie and Jacobsen (1995) to have
taken place during a scavenging event by a velociraptorine.
A few tentative inferences about the mode of feeding in this case
are possible. The sequence of consumption of various fleshy carcass
elements by modern mammalian carnivores is remarkably consistent,
although patterns of bone consumption display more variation
(Blumenschine, 1987). The lightly-built skull and thin, recurved
teeth of Velociraptor do not show any obvious adaptations to
osteophagy and are small in absolute terms compared to the bones
of a Protoceratops. Quadrupedal ornithischians can reasonably be
assumed to have been broadly similar to extant ungulates in the
volumetric distribution of their musculature. We therefore infer that a
velociraptorine feeding upon a ceratopsian might have proceeded in
essentially the same sequence seen in modern, non-osteophagous
mammalian carnivores, with initial consumption of bowel and
hindquarter flesh, followed by forequarter flesh, and finally head
and neck flesh (Blumenschine, 1987). Thus, we consider the presence
of bite marks on the Protoceratops jaw from Bayan Mandahu to
represent late-stage carcass consumption by Velociraptor. This
interpretation is further supported by the fact that the bite marks
are numerous, suggesting repeated bites close to the cortical surface
of the bone. This would probably not have occurred unless the
majority of the available muscle mass had already been stripped off
and the dromaeosaur was feeding close to the bone. The broken tooth
also suggests an instance of significant, although not necessarily very
forceful, tooth–bone contact. This would seem unlikely for an animal
during normal feeding and is reminiscent of the case of tooth breakage
that was previously inferred by Currie and Jacobsen (1995) to have
taken place during a scavenging event by a velociraptorine.
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A few tentative inferences about the mode of feeding in this case
are possible. The sequence of consumption of various fleshy carcass
elements by modern mammalian carnivores is remarkably consistent,
although patterns of bone consumption display more variation
(Blumenschine, 1987). The lightly-built skull and thin, recurved
teeth of Velociraptor do not show any obvious adaptations to
osteophagy and are small in absolute terms compared to the bones
of a Protoceratops. Quadrupedal ornithischians can reasonably be
assumed to have been broadly similar to extant ungulates in the
volumetric distribution of their musculature. We therefore infer that a
velociraptorine feeding upon a ceratopsian might have proceeded in
essentially the same sequence seen in modern, non-osteophagous
mammalian carnivores, with initial consumption of bowel and
hindquarter flesh, followed by forequarter flesh, and finally head
and neck flesh (Blumenschine, 1987). Thus, we consider the presence
of bite marks on the Protoceratops jaw from Bayan Mandahu to
represent late-stage carcass consumption by Velociraptor. This
interpretation is further supported by the fact that the bite marks
are numerous, suggesting repeated bites close to the cortical surface
of the bone. This would probably not have occurred unless the
majority of the available muscle mass had already been stripped off
and the dromaeosaur was feeding close to the bone. The broken tooth
also suggests an instance of significant, although not necessarily very
forceful, tooth–bone contact. This would seem unlikely for an animal
during normal feeding and is reminiscent of the case of tooth breakage
that was previously inferred by Currie and Jacobsen (1995) to have
taken place during a scavenging event by a velociraptorine.
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