From Westbury, NY, Valerie Varnuska has a range of personal interests, including art, music, cooking, and walking outside. Valerie Varnuska also enjoys staying informed about new discoveries in the field of paleontology.
Scientists and the University of Bristol recently reported on the results of a study they conducted to investigate the differences between the bites of adult and juvenile tyrannosaurids, one of the most ferocious species of dinosaurs.
The study used 3D modeling and computational studies to assess the jaw mechanics of juvenile and adult-aged tyrannosaurids and found key differences between them. Researchers have determined that adult tyrannosaurids could produce biting forces of 60,000 Newtons and crush bone. However, compared to adult tyrannosaurids, the juveniles had more slender mandibles that could not withstand the same forces required to inflict high-impact bites. Based on their bite capabilities, scientists believe that juvenile tyrannosaurids most likely had a different role to fill in the environment than that of their adult counterparts, since they most likely hunted smaller prey.
Valerie Varnuska 