Researchers from the University of Birmingham, using computer reconstruction of the skull of dinosaurs, showed that large predatory species, along with powerful jaws, acquired unusually shaped elongated eye sockets. The article was published in the journal Communications Biology.

Computer modeling of the skulls of about 500 different dinosaurs, including tyrannosaurs, showed that round eye sockets would induce high mechanical stress in the bones of carnivorous dinosaurs when bitten. To maintain the stability of the skull, having acquired powerful jaws, the slightly elongated shape of the eye sockets allowed the animals: elliptical, in the form of a keyhole or figure eight. In this case, the eyeball occupied only the upper part of the orbit. This resulted in a reduction in the size of the eyes relative to the skull. Otherwise, Tyrannosaurus rex eyes would have grown up to 30 cm in diameter and weighed almost 20 kg instead of the estimated 13 cm and 2 kg.

This problem, however, is relevant only for predatory owners of large skulls over a meter in length. The majority of herbivorous species and young carnivores have retained a round eye socket.

bbabo.Net