tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71776697293624540272024-03-14T11:01:14.990-07:00Palaeo-art Databasetraumadorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387315561167115253noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177669729362454027.post-11134206942709833922011-10-12T05:17:00.000-07:002011-10-27T05:30:00.922-07:00Mosasaur Diets: Everhart 2004<p align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong><em>General Gist:</em></strong><br /></span><br />Despite their <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">stereotypically</span> status as "top predators", <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span> as an overall family were incredibly scattered throughout the Cretaceous <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">food chain</span>. Some of the larger more impressive species certainly were at the top of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">food web</span>, but the majority of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span> tended to not be the largest predators in their ecosystem.<br /><br />With this diversity in ecological roles the question is what did <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span> eat?<br /><br />In his 2004 paper on a confirmed instance of<a href="http://fhsu.academia.edu/MikeEverhart/Papers/160114/Plesiosaurs_as_the_Food_of_Mosasaurs_New_Data_on_the_Stomach_Contents_of_a_Tylosaurus_proriger_Squamata_Mosasauridae_from_the_Niobrara_Formation_of_Western_Kansas"> a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tylosaur</span></span> eating a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Plesiosaur</span></span>, Michael <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Everhart</span></span> </a>provides a very useful summary of all known evidence of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span></span> feeding.<br /><br />I have simplified this data (with supplementary information from additional sources, noted later in this post) into the following chart: <br /><p align="left"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 625px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 647px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/6237060577_3ac6fea82e_b.jpg" /> <span style="font-size:85%;">Diagram by Craig <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dylke</span></span>, using all his own photographs with the exception of<a href="http://www.oceansofkansas.com/sharks.html"> the shark fossil which is by Michael <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Everhart</span></span></a></span><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Diagram Legend:</span></em></strong><br /><br /><li><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><em>Smaller <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span></span>= an animal approximately 4.5 meters (15 feet) or smaller</em></span><br /></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><em>Medium <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span></span>= an animal between the approximate lengths of 4.5 meters (15 feet) and 9 meters (30 feet)</em></span></li><br /><br /><li><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><em>Larger <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span></span>= an animal 9 meters (30 feet) or longer</em></span></li><br /><br /><li><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Globidenid</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span></span>= the specific family of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span></span> that branched off and specialized in eating shelled invertebrates</em></span></li><br /><br /><p align="left">This chart is a simplification that condenses many species together based solely on their size. That having been said the opinions (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">versus</span> the peer reviewed papers) of many <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span></span> workers tend to be in line with my guide (which is actually why I constructed it this way :P).<br /><br />For the hard evidence versus the conjecture, please read on. <br /><p align="left"><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span></span> Diets- The Hard Evidence</span></em></strong><br /><br />We have been lucky to find many fossil specimens of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span></span> so complete they preserve stomach contents. Below are the prey animals listed with the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span> they have been found inside, as stated in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Everhart</span></span> 2004 (with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">supplementary</span> sources noted by * that can be found in the sources section at the bottom of the post). <br /><p align="left"><strong>Fish:</strong> <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Platecarpus</span></span> </em>(smaller <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span></span>)<em>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">Plotosaurus</span></span></em> (medium to larger <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span></span>) <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tylosaurus</span></span></em> (larger <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span></span>)<br /><br /><strong>Sharks:</strong> <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tylosaurus</span></span></em> (larger <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span></span>)<br /><br /><strong>Clams:</strong> <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-error">Globidenid</span></span></em> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_34" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span>*<br /><br /><strong>Turtles: </strong><em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_35" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hainosaurus</span></span></em><strong> </strong>(larger <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span></span>), <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_37" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" class="blsp-spelling-error">Prognathodon</span></span>** </em>(medium <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_38" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span></span>)<br /><br /><strong>Small <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_39" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_34" class="blsp-spelling-error">Plesiosaurs</span></span> (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_40" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_35" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dolichorhynchops</span></span>):</strong> <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_41" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tylosaurus</span></span></em> (larger <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_42" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_37" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span></span>)<br /><br /><strong>Smaller <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_43" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_38" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span> (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_44" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_39" class="blsp-spelling-error">Clidastes</span></span>):</strong> <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_45" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_40" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tylosaurus</span></span></em> (larger <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_46" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_41" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span></span>)<br /><br /><strong>Marine Birds (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_47" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_42" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hesperornids</span></span>):</strong> <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_48" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_43" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tylosaurus</span></span></em> (larger <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_49" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_44" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span></span>)<br /><br />So we can see fish are a staple for all size classes of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_50" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_45" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span></span>. Given the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_51" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">diversity</span> of fish known from Cretaceous oceans this makes sense. It is probably a safe assumption that most <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_52" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_46" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span> big and small probably ate fish for the majority of their diet. The only question is how big and/or how many?<br />The larger the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_53" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_47" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span></span> the more varied its diet could be. This makes sense from a size point of view. If you are larger than everything else, you can more easily chase down, overpower, and of course eat them.<br /><br />Of all <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_54" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_48" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasurs</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_55" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_49" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tylosaurus</span></span> was clearly the least fussy eater (at least as far as <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_56" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">preserved</span> evidence goes). Of all the completely confirmed prey on this list, only turtles are absent from their (confirmed) diet. However it is safe to assume <em>most</em> larger <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_57" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_50" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span> had a similar diet, and basically would eat anything small enough for them to safely swallow.<br /><br />Due to their jaw anatomy, a toothed palate that acted like a backup jaw, and their teeth structure it appears quite clear <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_58" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_51" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span> had to generally swallow prey whole. They probably were unable to tear or take apart freshly caught prey, and so anything they captured they had to ingest all at once. Meaning the prey needed to be small enough not to choke them.<br /><br />There is evidence <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_52" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span> could rip off parts of decayed prey (such as the Dinosaur discussed below). However this makes sense as flesh gets softer as it decomposes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufETHY40_mBT4t3M-7jePHXshiBzLEA0KCoazXZ0RKGJWKBQ8yic-AFdhdQ7qrBy-oztHDcCcjCaCQxtbGURDe8kfOsbUNHs3cR2EKvldoyMUrXTPM-A_eZSJA3yHR3fAyA0W2CdSjclq/s1600/Size+comparison.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668147246738178850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufETHY40_mBT4t3M-7jePHXshiBzLEA0KCoazXZ0RKGJWKBQ8yic-AFdhdQ7qrBy-oztHDcCcjCaCQxtbGURDe8kfOsbUNHs3cR2EKvldoyMUrXTPM-A_eZSJA3yHR3fAyA0W2CdSjclq/s400/Size+comparison.jpg" /></a>This is important to remember when considering the marine reptiles larger <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_62" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_56" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaurs</span></span> ate. While they certainly were large prey, they were by no means the largest species of marine reptiles coexisting with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_63" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_57" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaurs</span></span>, and in fact appear to be juvenile animals of these smaller species.<br /><br />There is evidence of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_64" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">inter species</span> combat between <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_65" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_58" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span> (see other post), but this was not predation, and animals killed in these battles were certainly not eaten by the winner (probably due to the size constraint of food size).<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_59" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span> Predators or Scavengers?- Artistic Freedom</span></em></strong><br /><br />An obvious question is whether <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_60" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaurs</span> were predators or scavengers. There is no obvious or clear answer.<br /><br />In all <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_61" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">likelihood</span> like all modern carnivores, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_62" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaurs</span> would scavenge when the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_63" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">opportunity</span> arose, and catch prey only if it was the most energy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_64" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">efficient</span> way to meet their own food requirements.<br /><br />With the diversity of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_65" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span> species there was likely a vast array of lifestyles. While the temptation is to assume that larger <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_66" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaurs</span> were active predators, they could have (much like the large sharks they coexisted with) been highly effective scavengers able to scare or chase away other predators from their kills. At the same point they could very well have been mega predators and hunted anything they wished (they could safely swallow!). The reality is probably somewhere in the middle.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_67" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span> Scavenging Washed Out Dinosaurs- Hard Evidence</span></em></strong><br /><br />Based on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_68" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pasch</span> and May 2001.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTBrTSjgjeIXRlvNaVn6m-Kb0N-b6jdXu4AOfBKB3LkY7-LpbMZHOrT35KNb4JMAJSBaK2PrizeyTSGr6hL3noV2_j3AHgFrnLMJZQyG6NpDUHiLi3_wcsKQ_jo15btMtfj6ikZTl8nPG/s1600/Mosasaur+Dinosaur+Scavenging.jpg"><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665085320766223698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTBrTSjgjeIXRlvNaVn6m-Kb0N-b6jdXu4AOfBKB3LkY7-LpbMZHOrT35KNb4JMAJSBaK2PrizeyTSGr6hL3noV2_j3AHgFrnLMJZQyG6NpDUHiLi3_wcsKQ_jo15btMtfj6ikZTl8nPG/s400/Mosasaur+Dinosaur+Scavenging.jpg" /></span></em></strong></a> There is a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_69" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">tantalizing</span> find from Alaska that alerts us to real cases in which larger <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_70" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span> feed on Dinosaurs. This being the sunken carcass of a young <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_71" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hadrosaur</span> whose bones were covered in bite marks matching those of a large <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_72" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span> (and not matching any other examined predator, including sharks and predatory fish whose teeth were found at the site).<br /><br />(Sadly in a sense), this was clearly a case of scavenging by the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_73" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span>, as the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_74" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hadrosaur</span> showed many signs of having died close to (or on) the shore, and post death bloating and floating out to sea. Based on the tooth marks it appears likely the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_75" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span> was the reason the duckbill sank, as a series of ribs were ripped out of position, and this would have ruptured the stomach allowing the built up bloat gases to escape.<br /><br />The teeth marks clearly show the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_76" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span> was tearing at the corpse. This was probably made possible by the softening of the tissue in decomposition, and allowed the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_77" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span> to tear meat from the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_78" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hadrosaur</span>. </p><br /><br /><p>That said this is another example of evidence <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_79" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaurs</span> were not equipped to dismember or consume prey matching their size. The tooth marks are most common and pronounced on sections of the skeleton that would have been covered in less meat, such at the lower <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_80" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">extremities</span> and ribs. </p><br /><p>Had the Mosasaur been able to rip through the tougher and thicker sections of meat we'd expect teeth marks all over the body. Instead we only get the marks on parts of the skeleton easy for it to get at. Also if it was capable of regularly dismembering large carcasses we'd expect more bones to be torn off the body. Instead the only bones successful removed were those ribs, and they do not show extreme signs of damage. </p><br /><p>Proving even a large <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_81" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span> was incapable of doing significant damage to a decomposing body (that alone a fresh sturdy kill).<br /><br />Of course Dinosaurs were not a staple food for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_82" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaurs</span>, and they no doubt represent a very uncommon to rare "treat" for a lucky marine reptile. Though we continue to find individual Dinosaurs who washed out to sea. So reconstructing this scene is not unreasonable.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong><em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_66" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_83" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span> Eating Ammonites- The Conflicting Evidence</em></strong><br /><br /></span>(This section is not based on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_67" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_84" class="blsp-spelling-error">Everhart</span></span> 2004, but rather supplementary sources listed at the end of the post)<br /><br />While I say conflicting evidence, there is a great deal of hard evidence at least some Ammonites were eaten by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_68" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_85" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span>. The questions are how many, and just how common a prey were the shelled squid for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_69" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_86" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span>?<br /><br /><br /><object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/PDwrxYOy0AY?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/PDwrxYOy0AY?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br />Traditionally <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_70" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_87" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span> have been depicted and portrayed as commonly preying on Ammonites. This animation clip from the 1990 PBS documentary DINOSAURS being a typical example (though this convention is over a hundred years old).<br /><br />There is some <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_71" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">controversy</span> as to just how common this feeding was by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_72" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_88" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span>. Traditionally ANY hole found on an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_73" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_89" class="blsp-spelling-error">ammonite</span></span> shell was attributed to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_74" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_90" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span></span> attacks. However the team of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_75" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_91" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kase</span></span>, Johnston, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_76" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_92" class="blsp-spelling-error">Seilacher</span></span> and Boyce conducted <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_77" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">experiments</span> with a robotic set of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_78" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_93" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span></span> jaws on Nautilus shells, and found the majority of the time the shell was pulverized. They concluded that the actions of less destructive boring limpets were the cause of most holes.<br /><br />Despite these robot/limpet findings, <a href="http://www.wyodino.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/BittenAmmonite.pdf">there have been ammonites found with holes that were most likely caused by a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_79" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_94" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span></span> bite</a> of some kind. In these cases the holes are in a triangular formation (matching the triangular snout of a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_80" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_95" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span></span>), had the right number of holes for approximate tooth counts of known <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_81" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_96" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span></span> species, AND had holes on both sides of the shell clearly demonstrating a bite by both an upper and lower jaw.<br /><br />So while clearly ammonites occasionally fell victim to predation by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_82" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_97" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaurs</span></span>, for the moment we are not sure just how common this behaviour was, and if it was limited to specific species or common across all size classes of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_83" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_98" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span></span>.<br /><br />I included ammonites in all size classes on my diagram as I have not been able to properly access any of the supplementary papers listed above. I will revise this all once I do. </p><br /><p align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong><em>Artistic Freedoms</em></strong><br /></span><br />Given all we know about <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_99" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span> diets so far (quite a lot compared to many other prehistoric mega-predators!) you have a great deal of leeway in your <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_100" class="blsp-spelling-error">reconstructions</span>.<br /><br />Probably the only limitation you have is the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_101" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaurs</span> general inability to tear apart prey, and thus they were limited to what they could safely swallow.<br /><br />You are free to explore active predation, passive scavenging, or any variant <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_102" class="blsp-spelling-error">inbetween</span>!<br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;"><strong><em>Sources:</em></strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_84" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_103" class="blsp-spelling-error">Everhart</span></span>, M. J. 2004. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_85" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_104" class="blsp-spelling-error">Plesiosaurs</span></span> as the food of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_86" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_105" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaurs</span></span>; new data on the stomach contents of a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_87" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_106" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tylosaurus</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_88" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_107" class="blsp-spelling-error">proriger</span></span> (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_89" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_108" class="blsp-spelling-error">Squamata</span></span>; <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_90" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_109" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasauridae</span></span>) from the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_91" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_110" class="blsp-spelling-error">Niobrara</span></span> Formation of western Kansas. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_92" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_111" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span></span> 7:41-46</span>.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>*Martin, J. E. and J. E. Fox. 2004. </em><a href="http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2004RM/finalprogram/abstract_72132.htm"><em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_93" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_112" class="blsp-spelling-error">Molluscs</span></span> in the stomach contents of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_94" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_113" class="blsp-spelling-error">Globidens</span></span>, a shell crushing <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_95" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_114" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span></span>, from the Late Cretaceous Pierre Shale, Big Bend area of the Missouri River, central South Dakota.</em></a><em> Geological Society of America, 2004 Rocky Mountain and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_96" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_115" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cordilleran</span></span> Regions Joint Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 36(4):80.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>**<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_97" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_116" class="blsp-spelling-error">Takuya</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_98" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_117" class="blsp-spelling-error">Konishi</span></span>, Donald <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_99" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_118" class="blsp-spelling-error">Brinkman</span></span>, Judy A. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_100" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_119" class="blsp-spelling-error">Massare</span></span>, and Michael W. Caldwell, 2011, </em><a href="http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1080/02724634.2011.601714"><em>New Exceptional Specimens of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_101" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_120" class="blsp-spelling-error">Prognathodon</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_102" class="blsp-spelling-error">overtoni</span> (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_103" class="blsp-spelling-error">Squamata</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_104" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasauridae</span>) from the Upper <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_105" class="blsp-spelling-error">Campanian</span> of Alberta, Canada, and the Systematics and Ecology of the Genus</em></a><em>. Journal of Vertebrate <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_106" class="blsp-spelling-error">Paleontology</span> 31(5):1026-1046. 2011 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_107" class="blsp-spelling-error">doi</span>: 10.1080/02724634.2011.601714 </em></span><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:78%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_108" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pasch, A. D., K. C. May. 2001. <a href="http://books.google.ca/books?id=mgc6CS4EUPsC&pg=PA219&lpg=PA219&dq=Taphonomy+and+paleoenvironment+of+hadrosaur+(Dinosauria)+from+the+Matanuska+Formation+(Turonian)+in+South-Central+Alaska.+Mesozioc+Vertebrate+Life.&source=bl&ots=380zgR0GZz&sig=Woc4bFAKOLRVkiJO8SncinY6JSs&hl=en&ei=ejOeTuvgNrCPiAfqrdjTCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEEQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=true">Taphonomy and paleoenvironment of hadrosaur (Dinosauria) from the Matanuska Formation (Turonian) in South-Central Alaska</a>. In: Mesozioc Vertebrate Life. Ed.s Tanke, D. H., Carpenter, K., Skrepnick, M. W. Indiana University Press. Pages 219-236. </span></span></em></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><em><span style="font-size:78%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error">Erle</span> G. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_109" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kauffman</span>. 2004. </span></em><a href="http://www.jstor.org/pss/3515798"><em><span style="font-size:78%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_110" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mosasaur</span> Predation on Upper Cretaceous <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_111" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nautiloids</span> and Ammonites from the United States Pacific Coast</span></em></a><em><span style="font-size:78%;">. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_112" class="blsp-spelling-error">PALAIOSVol</span>. 19, No. 1 (Feb., 2004), pp. 96-100 </span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:78%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_113" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tomoki</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_114" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kase</span>, Paul A. Johnston, Adolf <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_115" class="blsp-spelling-error">Seilacher</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_116" class="blsp-spelling-error">Japeth</span> B. Boyce 1998. </span><a href="http://geology.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/26/10/947"><span style="font-size:78%;">Alleged <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_117" class="blsp-spelling-error">mosasaur</span> bite marks on Late Cretaceous ammonites are limpet (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_118" class="blsp-spelling-error">patellogastropod</span>) home scars</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">. Geology; October 1998; v. 26; no. 10; p. 947-950;</span></em></p>traumadorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387315561167115253noreply@blogger.com1