Evolution of Jaw Mechanisms in Ornithopod Dinosaurs

The Ornithopoda, one of five suborders within the Ornithischia, was originally proposed by Marsh in 1881 to include those bipedal dinosaurs possessing a predentary bone fitted over the rostral end of the mandibles. Ornithopods as recognized today can be further characterized by moderately long facial skele- tons equipped with well-developed, often toothless premaxillae and moderate to large external nares. Maxillary and dentary dentitions vary but usually consist of at least one replacement...