Theagarten Lingham-Soliar

Academic paper

Lethaia

31

12-15

lnformation on predatory behavior and fighting in extinct ecological communities is becoming increasingly important (Brett 1990; also see Martill et al 1994 for an interpretation of shake feeding in pliosaurs). Williston (1897) interpreted numerous re-healed broken bones in the fossilized skeletons of mosasaurs as evidence of an aggressive disposition beyond that of normal predatory behavior. The presence of rehealed breaks on massive jaw .bones of Mososaurus hoffmanni (at over 17 m the largest marine reptile known) and tooth marks attributed to M. hoffmanni on the keratinized scute (~2m in diameter) of a giant turtle, Alopleuron hoffmanni testify to this (Lingham-Soliar 1995) . In this note, evidence of a highly specialized killing technique, ramming, may add to our knowledge of the 1ifestyle of mosasaurs.

English