Abstract
Models of the mammalian jaw have predicted that bite force is intimately linked to jaw gape and to tooth position. Despite widespread use, few empirical studies have provided evidence to validate these models in non-human mammals and none have considered the influence of gape angle on the distribution of stress. Here using a multi-property finite element (FE) model of Canis lupus dingo, we examined the influence of gape angle and bite point on both bite force and cranial stress. Bite force data in relation to jaw gape and along the tooth row, are in broad agreement with previously reported results. However stress data showed that the skull of C. l. dingo is mechanically suited to withstand stresses at wide gapes; a result that agreed well with previously held views regarding carnivoran evolution. Stress data, combined with bite force information, suggested that there is an optimal bite angle of between 25° and 35° in C. l. dingo. The function of these rather small bite angles remains unclear.
Highlights
Theoretical models of the mammalian jaw apparatus predict that bite force is intimately linked to jaw gape angle and bite position [1,2,3,4]
Tests on how force varies along the jaw line, and between gape angles, have been few and far between [9,10,11,12] and none have concentrated on carnivoran mammals
Bite Force A negative correlation was found between bite force and gape angle, with shallower angles producing higher bite forces for both canines and carnassials
Summary
Theoretical models of the mammalian jaw apparatus predict that bite force is intimately linked to jaw gape angle and bite position [1,2,3,4]. Shallower gapes and more proximal tooth positions should lead to greater overall force production. Many studies have focused only on maximum bite force [6,7,8]. Tests on how force varies along the jaw line, and between gape angles, have been few and far between [9,10,11,12] and none have concentrated on carnivoran mammals. It has been argued that carnivoran muscle insertion geometry, and mandibular articulation angles might facilitate the generation of greater bite forces at wider angles than in more generalized mammals [12,13]. It is possible that carnivoran skull mechanics don’t follow patterns deduced for other taxa
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