The study, published in the journal Communications Biology, focuses on the period between 315 and 251 million years ago, when synapsids were the largest land predators, long before the appearance of dinosaurs. Researchers noticed a significant change in jaw function around 270 million years ago; this marked a decisive transition in predatory behavior that had significant impacts on mammal evolution.
Lead author Dr. of the Bristol School of Earth Sciences. Suresh Singh explains: “Early synapsids, such as Dimetrodon, used long jaws with numerous teeth to capture prey. However, synapsids later evolved shorter, more muscular jaws and less concentrated front teeth, designed to deliver powerful, devastating bites.”
This shift demonstrates an increased emphasis on rapid and effective capture in response to changing prey characteristics. “Predators faced new challenges from faster and larger herbivores,” explains Dr Singh. “The emergence of the first saber-toothed hunters is an example of this adaptation.”
Interestingly, changes in jaw structure during this period are not only related to hunting efficiency. Study co-author Dr Armin Elsler said: “This transformation also laid the foundation for mammals’ unique jaw-middle ear complex. Our study suggests that these changes were driven in part by the need to become more efficient predators.”
Source: Ferra
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