Southern Ceratosaurs Converge on Tyrannosaurid-Style Feeding Mechanics
A 3D biomechanical study of four ceratosaur skulls (Ceratosaurus, Masiakasaurus, Carnotaurus, Majungasaurus) using CT/surface scans and finite element analysis finds that large southern ceratosaurs experience high feeding stresses similar to tyrannosaurids, with cranial ornamentation not providing extra strength, while the small Masiakasaurus shows a low-stress, small-prey feeding mode. The results imply niche partitioning between Masiakasaurus and Majungasaurus and indicate that ceratosaurs converged on tyrannosaurid-like feeding mechanics and ecological roles in the southern hemisphere.