Terrestrial tetrapod beaks and beaked jaws evolution in Triassic (free pdf)
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Ben Creisler
Jun 16, 2026, 11:43:43 AM (3 days ago) Jun 16
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Ben Creisler
A new paper:
Free pdf:
Damiano Landi, James L. King, Suresh A. Singh, Emily J. Rayfield & Michael J. Benton (2026)
Beaks of the Permo-Triassic: a morpho-functional analysis at the dawn of a novel structure in tetrapod evolution
Palaeontology 69(3): e70075
doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.70075
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pala.70075
Free pdf:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pala.70075
The Triassic was a unique time for beak evolution, as seen in a wide diversity of terrestrial tetrapods. Beaks were present in dicynodont synapsid survivors of the Permo-Triassic mass extinction event (PTME) and evolved independently several times in archosauromorphs and their relatives. Here, we explore the morpho-functional characteristics of the first beaked jaws as well as the roles of these beaks, using a combination of geometric and functional morphometric analyses on 2D material. This revealed the functional capabilities of these jaws, and enabled inferences on the trophic relationships of these early beaked tetrapods. Dicynodont morphospace occupation remained largely stable through the PTME, while newly evolved beaked archelosaurs (= archosaurs + turtles) occupied distinct areas of morphospace. Archelosaur and dicynodont beaks were functionally different, with archelosaurs exhibiting greater morpho-functional variation and further differentiation between subclades. Clear differences in jaw and beak shape and function indicate divergent feeding behaviours that are consistent with niche partitioning. We further identify three functional groups (snippers, shearers, and slicers) that reflect these different feeding specializations. Our study elucidates patterns of divergence along morpho-functional and phylogenetic trajectories that are rooted in the early evolution of beaked clades. While united by the convergent development of the specialized oral structure, these lineages evolved independent feeding strategies that highlight the strength of ecological pressures on morpho-functional evolution.
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Damiano Landi, James L. King, Suresh A. Singh, Emily J. Rayfield & Michael J. Benton (2026)
Beaks of the Permo-Triassic: a morpho-functional analysis at the dawn of a novel structure in tetrapod evolution
Palaeontology 69(3): e70075
doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.70075
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pala.70075
Free pdf:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pala.70075
The Triassic was a unique time for beak evolution, as seen in a wide diversity of terrestrial tetrapods. Beaks were present in dicynodont synapsid survivors of the Permo-Triassic mass extinction event (PTME) and evolved independently several times in archosauromorphs and their relatives. Here, we explore the morpho-functional characteristics of the first beaked jaws as well as the roles of these beaks, using a combination of geometric and functional morphometric analyses on 2D material. This revealed the functional capabilities of these jaws, and enabled inferences on the trophic relationships of these early beaked tetrapods. Dicynodont morphospace occupation remained largely stable through the PTME, while newly evolved beaked archelosaurs (= archosaurs + turtles) occupied distinct areas of morphospace. Archelosaur and dicynodont beaks were functionally different, with archelosaurs exhibiting greater morpho-functional variation and further differentiation between subclades. Clear differences in jaw and beak shape and function indicate divergent feeding behaviours that are consistent with niche partitioning. We further identify three functional groups (snippers, shearers, and slicers) that reflect these different feeding specializations. Our study elucidates patterns of divergence along morpho-functional and phylogenetic trajectories that are rooted in the early evolution of beaked clades. While united by the convergent development of the specialized oral structure, these lineages evolved independent feeding strategies that highlight the strength of ecological pressures on morpho-functional evolution.
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