3D Jaw Muscles of Tomistoma schlegelii

3D Model

This 3D model of the semi-aquatic, predatory living ‘False Gharial’, Tomistoma schlegelii (TMM M-6342) from Indonesia. Crocodylians have markedly flatter skulls than their ancestors, with their temporal muscles being far more horizontally oriented than those of early crocodyliforms. Read more on how the evolution of skull shape in crocodilians affected jaw muscle function in Sellers et al (2022) in in Anatomical Record: https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.24912. Thanks to the Texas Memorial Museum for providing access to the specimen. Thanks to National Science Foundation 1631684 for supporting the work.