What question did this study set out to answer?

To reconstruct the principal skull and jaw musculature of the Middle Triassic temnospondyl Mastodonsaurus giganteus, providing an anatomical foundation for biomechanical modeling and refining early tetrapod feeding ecology.

September 17, 2026Journal of AnatomyOpen Access

Reconstructing the major skull myology of the giant stem‐amphibian Mastodonsaurus : A case study for early tetrapods

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Authors

DSDaniel E. SchwarzStaatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart SLStephan LautenschlagerNatural History Museum FWFlorian WitzmannMuseum für Naturkunde

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Implication

Anatomical reconstruction reveals differentiated jaw-closing musculature in Mastodonsaurus giganteus, indicating a crocodile-like bite-and-hold feeding strategy.

Key Points

To reconstruct the principal skull and jaw musculature of the Middle Triassic temnospondyl Mastodonsaurus giganteus, providing an anatomical foundation for biomechanical modeling and refining early tetrapod feeding ecology.
Applied an extant phylogenetic bracket framework incorporating competing phylogenetic hypotheses regarding the origin of lissamphibians.
Analyzed osteological correlates on M. giganteus fossils informed by comparative anatomical literature and digital dissections of contrast-enhanced soft-tissue micro-CT datasets of living bracket taxa.
Identified an adductor system with subdivided adductor mandibulae externus and internus complexes, along with evidence for an intramandibular cartilaginous pulley (cartilago transiliens).
Identified osteological correlates for previously unrecognized pterygoideus components capable of enhancing jaw-closing force and facilitating rapid gape expansion.
Determined that a relatively weak tongue, combined with robust neck musculature and modified anterior ribs, supported kinetic-inertial feeding and crocodile-like bite-and-hold prey capture.

Cite This Study

Schwarz et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aabb6d85f706d05830e5938 https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.70239

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Implication

Anatomical reconstruction reveals differentiated jaw-closing musculature in Mastodonsaurus giganteus, indicating a crocodile-like bite-and-hold feeding strategy.

Reconstructing the major skull myology of the giant stem‐amphibian Mastodonsaurus : A case study for early tetrapods

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Key Points

Cite This Study

Reconstructing the major skull myology of the giant stem‐amphibian Mastodonsaurus : A case study for early tetrapods

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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