The Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Arthrodires were predatory vertebrates of the Devonian seas, with simple lower jaws conducible to examination of feeding across growth, evolution, and local diversity. 2D finite element analyses (FEA) of arthrodire mandibles (scaled to equivalent length and force, and checked against a 3D control), and a new method of stress integration, enable extensive comparisons of bite stress. FEA indicates that juveniles of Cleveland Member Dunkleosteus terrelli had robust mandibles, and could shear into tough prey tissues similarly to adults. Low mandible rotational inertias of some Gogo Formation arthrodires suggest rapid jaw depression for suction feeding, whereas others had low mandible stress suggesting greater bite force. These results point to high trophic diversity of Gogo arthrodires in their reef habitats, and high predatory competence of young Dunkleosteus.