Cannibalism in the Madagascan dinosaur Majungatholus atopus

摘要: Many lines of evidence have been brought to bear on the question theropod feeding ecology, including functional and physiological considerations, morphological constraints, taphonomic associations, telling--although rare--indications direct ingestion. Tooth marks theropods, although rarely described generally left unassigned a particular taxon, can provide unique clues into predator-prey interaction, also yield insights extent carcass utilization. Here we describe sample tooth-marked dinosaur bone recovered from three well-documented localities in Upper Cretaceous Maevarano Formation Madagascar that provides ecology abelisaurid Majungatholus atopus. Intensely elements multiple individuals show defleshed carcasses. Furthermore, clearly fed upon remains not only sauropods, but conspecifics, thus was cannibal. Cannibalism is common ecological strategy among extant carnivores, until now relation carnivorous dinosaurs has sparse anecdotal.