Evidence of Roughhousing by Tyrannosaurs

Unexpected behavior in the Cretaceous: tooth-marked bones attributable to tyrannosaur play

Authors:

Rothschild

Abstract:

Attributing behavior in extinct animals is predicated on identification of anatomy or pathology analogous to that present and recognized in contemporary animals (ROTHSCHILD & MARTIN 2006). While TANKE & CURRIE (1998) noted the difficulty of directly recognizing dinosaur behavior, one approach is to examine biotic-derived environmental alterations. For the analysis of utilization of potential dietary components by theropod dinosaurs, this means examining the damage they produced in manipulation of carcasses or bony components thereof. Application of deductive reasoning to tooth marks on isolated dinosaur bones and fragments excludes the usual suspects (scavenging and predation), leaving attribution to a behavior not previously considered. The pattern of bite marks in isolated bones, and especially in isolated ceratopsian occipital condyles, is incompatible with feeding activities, but is characteristic of that found with play by contemporary animals. Deductive reasoning leads to an alternative explanation to feeding behaviors for isolated, tooth-marked bones: Tyrannosaurids played with those bones.