Loss of pursuit hunting drives evolution toward heavier jaws and teeth
Evidence
Because piranha no longer needed speed to catch prey, selection favored thicker jaws and larger and larger teeth. Barracuda, incidentally, have similarly impressive teeth for precisely the same reason. — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 112
Categorization
- XREF: Parallels the recurring evolutionary pattern across ambush predators in this chapter. — connects to: Prey scarcity cycles drive intense selection pressure on predator hunting weapons — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 69; Wolves evolved dual-purpose teeth and pack tactics to subdue oversized prey — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 74; Human spear points shrank as prey species successively dwindled in size — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 103
Related
- Wolves evolved dual-purpose teeth and pack tactics to subdue oversized prey (similarity 0.85)
- Ambush predators depend on appendage speed more than body speed (similarity 0.84)
- Bigger fish jaws create drag that slows prey-catching speed. (similarity 0.83)
- Predator weapons stay small because larger ones hinder hunting (similarity 0.83)
- Ambush predators evolve large weapons because they strike rather than chase prey (similarity 0.82)
- Ambush predators sacrifice locomotion speed for close-range striking power (similarity 0.82)
- Predator diversity is best explained by weapon adaptation to habitat and prey (similarity 0.82)
- Human spear points shrank as prey species successively dwindled in size (similarity 0.82)
- Ambush predation releases predators from chasing speed, allowing extreme weapon evolution. (similarity 0.81)
- Prey scarcity cycles drive intense selection pressure on predator hunting weapons (similarity 0.81)
- Jaw shape trades off between bite force and bite speed (similarity 0.80)
- Jaw length trades bite force against bite speed across carnivore species. (similarity 0.80)
- Praying mantis ambush hunting explains their spring-loaded raptorial forelegs. (similarity 0.80)
- Hyena jaw geometry trades closing speed for bone-crushing force (similarity 0.79)
- Cat canines are piercing weapons vulnerable to side torque during hunts (similarity 0.78)