2018.09.30

Bone Crushers

Fossilized poop reveals ancient dog had a fearsome bite

Borophagus dogs such as B. secundus  were thought to have had jaws strong enough to crunch through bone. (source: FROM “FIRST BONE-CRACKING DOG COPROLITES PROVIDE NEW INSIGHT INTO BONE CONSUMPTION IN BOROPHAGUS AND THEIR UNIQUE ECOLOGICAL NICHE,” BY XIAOMING WANG ET AL., IN ELIFE, VOL. 7, ARTICLE NO. E34773; MAY 22, 2018)

Borophagus dogs such as B. secundus were thought to have had jaws strong enough to crunch through bone. (source: FROM “FIRST BONE-CRACKING DOG COPROLITES PROVIDE NEW INSIGHT INTO BONE CONSUMPTION IN BOROPHAGUS AND THEIR UNIQUE ECOLOGICAL NICHE,” BY XIAOMING WANG ET AL., IN ELIFE, VOL. 7, ARTICLE NO. E34773; MAY 22, 2018)

© SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, A DIVISION OF NATURE AMERICA, INC.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.