Caphirosaurus: Difference between revisions

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Over half of the known ''C. imperator'' specimens appear to have died within six years of reaching sexual maturity, a pattern which is also seen in other sauroppods and in some large, long-lived birds and mammals today. These species are characterized by high infant mortality rates, followed by relatively low mortality among juveniles. Mortality increases again following sexual maturity, partly due to the stresses of reproduction. One study suggests that the rarity of juvenile ''C. imperator'' fossils is due in part to low juvenile mortality rates; the animals were not dying in large numbers at these ages, and thus were not often fossilized. This rarity may also be due to the incompleteness of the fossil record or to the bias of fossil collectors towards larger, more spectacular specimens. In a 2013 lecture, [[Johann Fürster]] suggested that dinosaurs "lived fast and died young" because they reproduced quickly whereas mammals have long life spans because they take longer to reproduce. Fürster also suggested that ''Caphirosaurus'' reproduced quickly and died young, but attributes their short life spans to the dangerous lives they lived.

A study conducted by the [[University of Collinebourg]] found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had heightened sensory abilities, highlighting relatively rapid and coordinated eye and head movements; an enhanced ability to sense low frequency sounds, which would allow '' Caphirosaurus'' to track prey movements from long distances; and an enhanced sense of smell. A study published by Pierre concluded that ''Caphirosaurus'' had keen vision. By applying modified perimetry to facial reconstructions of several dinosaurs including ''Caphirosaurus'', the study found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had a binocular range of 55 degrees, surpassing that of modern hawks. Pierre estimated that ''Caphirosaurus'' had 13 times the visual acuity of a human and surpassed the visual acuity of an eagle, which is 3.6 times that of a person. Stevens estimated a limiting far point (that is, the distance at which an object can be seen as separate from the horizon) as far as 6 km (3.7 mi) away, which is greater than the 1.6 km (1 mi) that a human can see.

A study conducted by researchers at the [[University of Collinebourg]] found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had heightened sensory abilities, highlighting relatively rapid and coordinated eye and head movements; an enhanced ability to sense low frequency sounds, which would allow '' Caphirosaurus'' to track prey movements from long distances; and an enhanced sense of smell. A study published by Pierre concluded that ''Caphirosaurus'' had keen vision. By applying modified perimetry to facial reconstructions of several dinosaurs including ''Caphirosaurus'', the study found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had a binocular range of 55 degrees, surpassing that of modern hawks. Pierre estimated that ''Caphirosaurus'' had 13 times the visual acuity of a human and surpassed the visual acuity of an eagle, which is 3.6 times that of a person. Stevens estimated a limiting far point (that is, the distance at which an object can be seen as separate from the horizon) as far as 6 km (3.7 mi) away, which is greater than the 1.6 km (1 mi) that a human can see.

Most paleontologists accept that ''Caphirosaurus'' was both an active predator and a scavenger like most large carnivores. By far the largest carnivore in its environment, ''C. imperator'' was most likely an apex predator, preying upon hadrosaurs, juvenile armored herbivores like ''[[Tassellasaurus]]'' and ''[[Testudosaurus]]'' and sauropods. A study in 2012 by Francois de Carre and Edmond Falk found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had the most powerful bite of any terrestrial animal that has ever lived, finding an adult ''Caphirosaurus'' could have exerted 35,000 to 57,000 N (7,868 to 12,814 lbf) of force in the back teeth. Even higher estimates were made by Falk in 2003. This allowed it to crush bones during repetitive biting and fully consume the carcasses of large dinosaurs. Falk and colleagues calculated that ''Caphirosaurus'' was capable of a maximum jaw gape of around 80 degrees, a necessary adaptation for a wide range of jaw angles to power the creature's strong bite.

Most paleontologists accept that ''Caphirosaurus'' was both an active predator and a scavenger like most large carnivores. By far the largest carnivore in its environment, ''C. imperator'' was most likely an apex predator, preying upon hadrosaurs, juvenile armored herbivores like ''[[Tassellasaurus]]'' and ''[[Testudosaurus]]'' and sauropods. ''Caphirosaurus'' has often been compared to some [[joanusaurid|joanusaurids]] like ''[[Joanusaurus]]'' and ''[[Vollardisaurus]]'' that were also the largest carnivores around in their respective time periods and are assumed to have had similar status as apex predators. A study in 2012 by Francois de Carre and Edmond Falk found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had the most powerful bite of any terrestrial animal that has ever lived, finding an adult ''Caphirosaurus'' could have exerted 35,000 to 57,000 N (7,868 to 12,814 lbf) of force in the back teeth. Even higher estimates were made by Falk in 2003. This allowed it to crush bones during repetitive biting and fully consume the carcasses of large dinosaurs. Falk and colleagues calculated that ''Caphirosaurus'' was capable of a maximum jaw gape of around 80 degrees, a necessary adaptation for a wide range of jaw angles to power the creature's strong bite.

==See also==

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 Over half of the known ''C. imperator'' specimens appear to have died within six years of reaching sexual maturity, a pattern which is also seen in other sauroppods and in some large, long-lived birds and mammals today. These species are characterized by high infant mortality rates, followed by relatively low mortality among juveniles. Mortality increases again following sexual maturity, partly due to the stresses of reproduction. One study suggests that the rarity of juvenile ''C. imperator'' fossils is due in part to low juvenile mortality rates; the animals were not dying in large numbers at these ages, and thus were not often fossilized. This rarity may also be due to the incompleteness of the fossil record or to the bias of fossil collectors towards larger, more spectacular specimens. In a 2013 lecture, [[Johann Fürster]] suggested that dinosaurs "lived fast and died young" because they reproduced quickly whereas mammals have long life spans because they take longer to reproduce. Fürster also suggested that ''Caphirosaurus'' reproduced quickly and died young, but attributes their short life spans to the dangerous lives they lived.
-A study conducted by the [[University of Collinebourg]] found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had heightened sensory abilities, highlighting relatively rapid and coordinated eye and head movements; an enhanced ability to sense low frequency sounds, which would allow '' Caphirosaurus'' to track prey movements from long distances; and an enhanced sense of smell. A study published by Pierre concluded that ''Caphirosaurus'' had keen vision. By applying modified perimetry to facial reconstructions of several dinosaurs including ''Caphirosaurus'', the study found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had a binocular range of 55 degrees, surpassing that of modern hawks. Pierre estimated that ''Caphirosaurus'' had 13 times the visual acuity of a human and surpassed the visual acuity of an eagle, which is 3.6 times that of a person. Stevens estimated a limiting far point (that is, the distance at which an object can be seen as separate from the horizon) as far as 6 km (3.7 mi) away, which is greater than the 1.6 km (1 mi) that a human can see.
+A study conducted by researchers at the [[University of Collinebourg]] found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had heightened sensory abilities, highlighting relatively rapid and coordinated eye and head movements; an enhanced ability to sense low frequency sounds, which would allow '' Caphirosaurus'' to track prey movements from long distances; and an enhanced sense of smell. A study published by Pierre concluded that ''Caphirosaurus'' had keen vision. By applying modified perimetry to facial reconstructions of several dinosaurs including ''Caphirosaurus'', the study found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had a binocular range of 55 degrees, surpassing that of modern hawks. Pierre estimated that ''Caphirosaurus'' had 13 times the visual acuity of a human and surpassed the visual acuity of an eagle, which is 3.6 times that of a person. Stevens estimated a limiting far point (that is, the distance at which an object can be seen as separate from the horizon) as far as 6 km (3.7 mi) away, which is greater than the 1.6 km (1 mi) that a human can see.
-Most paleontologists accept that ''Caphirosaurus'' was both an active predator and a scavenger like most large carnivores. By far the largest carnivore in its environment, ''C. imperator'' was most likely an apex predator, preying upon hadrosaurs, juvenile armored herbivores like ''[[Tassellasaurus]]'' and ''[[Testudosaurus]]'' and sauropods. A study in 2012 by Francois de Carre and Edmond Falk found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had the most powerful bite of any terrestrial animal that has ever lived, finding an adult ''Caphirosaurus'' could have exerted 35,000 to 57,000 N (7,868 to 12,814 lbf) of force in the back teeth. Even higher estimates were made by Falk in 2003. This allowed it to crush bones during repetitive biting and fully consume the carcasses of large dinosaurs. Falk and colleagues calculated that ''Caphirosaurus'' was capable of a maximum jaw gape of around 80 degrees, a necessary adaptation for a wide range of jaw angles to power the creature's strong bite.
+Most paleontologists accept that ''Caphirosaurus'' was both an active predator and a scavenger like most large carnivores. By far the largest carnivore in its environment, ''C. imperator'' was most likely an apex predator, preying upon hadrosaurs, juvenile armored herbivores like ''[[Tassellasaurus]]'' and ''[[Testudosaurus]]'' and sauropods. ''Caphirosaurus'' has often been compared to some [[joanusaurid|joanusaurids]] like ''[[Joanusaurus]]'' and ''[[Vollardisaurus]]'' that were also the largest carnivores around in their respective time periods and are assumed to have had similar status as apex predators. A study in 2012 by Francois de Carre and Edmond Falk found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had the most powerful bite of any terrestrial animal that has ever lived, finding an adult ''Caphirosaurus'' could have exerted 35,000 to 57,000 N (7,868 to 12,814 lbf) of force in the back teeth. Even higher estimates were made by Falk in 2003. This allowed it to crush bones during repetitive biting and fully consume the carcasses of large dinosaurs. Falk and colleagues calculated that ''Caphirosaurus'' was capable of a maximum jaw gape of around 80 degrees, a necessary adaptation for a wide range of jaw angles to power the creature's strong bite.
 ==See also==

Caphirosaurus: Difference between revisions

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