title: Cannibalism in the Madagascan dinosaur Majungatholus atopus.
abstract: Many lines of evidence have been brought to bear on the question of theropod feeding ecology, including functional and physiological considerations, morphological constraints, taphonomic associations, and telling--although rare--indications of direct ingestion. Tooth marks of theropods, although rarely described and generally left unassigned to a particular taxon, can provide unique clues into predator-prey interaction, and can also yield insights into the extent of carcass utilization. Here we describe a sample of tooth-marked dinosaur bone recovered from three well-documented localities in the Upper Cretaceous Maevarano Formation of Madagascar that provides insights into the feeding ecology of the abelisaurid theropod Majungatholus atopus. Intensely tooth-marked elements from multiple individuals show that Majungatholus defleshed dinosaur carcasses. Furthermore, Majungatholus clearly fed upon the remains of not only sauropods, but also conspecifics, and thus was a cannibal. Cannibalism is a common ecological strategy among extant carnivores, but until now the evidence in relation to carnivorous dinosaurs has been sparse and anecdotal.
authors.affiliation: Geology Department, Macalester College, 1600 Grand Avenue, St Paul, Minnesota 55105, USA. rogers@macalester.edu
authors.forename: Raymond R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Curry Rogers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones; D002190:Cannibalism; D004032:Diet; D025061:Dinosaurs / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D005580:Fossils; D008270:Madagascar; D014070:Tooth / Q000502:physiology