Researchers from the University of Birmingham used digital reconstructions to study the skulls of almost 500 dinosaur species, focusing on how eye socket shapes relate to feeding habits and jaw power. The study reveals that large meat-eating dinosaurs with especially strong bites tended to have longer eye sockets than smaller or less predatory species.
By simulating the biomechanics of dinosaur skulls, the team found that round eye sockets in carnivores with heavy jaws placed more stress on bones during biting. To keep the skull stable under immense forces, these predators evolved eye sockets that were not perfectly circular but slightly elongated, often resembling a keyhole or figure-eight shape. In this configuration, the eyeball sits mainly in the upper portion of the orbit, allowing the eye to stay protected without compromising jaw strength. Based on these models, a Tyrannosaurus rex eye could have reached about 13 centimeters in diameter with a mass near 2 kilograms, rather than growing far larger and heavier.
This pattern is most evident in large skulls exceeding about a meter in length. In contrast, many herbivorous dinosaurs and younger carnivores generally retain rounder eye sockets, which aligns with their different feeding mechanics and skull architecture.
Overall, the findings suggest a clear link between jaw power, skull stability, and orbital shape in large predatory dinosaurs. The elongated sockets helped balance the need for a strong bite with the structural demands of a robust cranium, shaping how these ancient animals saw their world. The results underscore how form follows function in prehistoric life and illustrate the nuanced tradeoffs that drive the evolution of key anatomical features. [Attribution: University of Birmingham study, Communication Biology]