Constraints and adaptations in crocodyliform skull evolution

Crocodyliforms display a diverse range of skull morphologies throughout their evolutionary history. Extant crocodilians possess platyrostral (broad and flat) snouts, thought to be sub-optimal for resisting feeding loads due to the conflicting demands of feeding and hydrodynamic constraints. In contrast, numerous Mesozoic crocodyliformes possessed oreinirostral (dome-shaped) skulls, were terrestrial, and hence free from hydrodynamic constraint. This study aims to examine the role of function in determining skull shape in crocodyliformes and assesses the difference in stress resistance between oreinirostral and platyrostral taxa. We hypothesize that in the absence of hydrodynamic constraints, oreinirostral taxa have skulls that are better suited for resisting feeding-induced loads. Using finite element analysis (FEA), we evaluated biomechanical performance in oreinirostral notosuchian taxa Baurusuchus salgadoensis, Montealtosuchus arrudacamposi, and Caipirasuchus paulistanus; compared to ..., , # Data from: Constraints and adaptations in crocodyliform skull evolution Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.4qrfj6qpp](10.5061/dryad.4qrfj6qpp) ## Description of the data and file structure ### Files and variables #### ### File: ABAQUS_Input_Files.zip **Description:**Â Abaqus input (.inp) files for the following taxa, under the four loading conditions: caniniform bilateral biting, molariform bilateral biting, unilateral biting, and pull-back loads. 1. *Alligator mississippiensis* 2. *Baurusuchus salgadoensis* 3. *Caipirasuchus paulistanus* 4. *Crocodylus niloticus* 5. *Montealtosuchus arrudacamposi* 6. *Paleosuchus palpebrosus* All files include the mesh geometries, loads (muscle forces), boundary conditions necessary to run the FEA. #### File: ABAQUS_RPTs.zip **Description:**Â Field outputs generated from ABAQUs for all six taxa and under caniniform unilateral and bilateral biting, molariform biting, and pull back loads. All .rpt files were converted to .txt files and formatted for u...,