Finite element analysis of the hemimandible of the giant deer, Sinomegaceros pachyosteus, revealing its feeding potentialities

ABSTRACT

The swollen mandible is a common feature in megacerines, especially in Sinomegaceros pachyosteus, which is likely related to their feeding strategy. Here, we compare the hemimandibular mechanical performances of four megaherbivores, i.e., S. pachyosteus, Alces acles, Bubalus bubalis, and Equus caballus using finite element analysis. The geometric models of the cranium and the hemimandible were reconstructed and the occlusal process was simulated. Full-sized models were analysed for the von Mises stress comparison and volume-scaled models were used for direct comparisons of the strain energy. Both strain energy and maximum von Mises stress of S. pachyosteus are as low as B. bubalis and E. caballus, and significantly lower than those of A. alces. We conclude that S. pachyosteus has the potential to be a grazer, similar to the diet of B. bubalis and E. caballus.

KEYWORDS:

• Sinomegaceros pachyosteus
• finite element analysis
• hemimandibular bone
• feeding potentialities

Acknowledgments

We are thankful to Yang Yu, IVPP, for discussion and valuable suggestions for this study. This work is supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA20070203, XDB26000000 and XDA20070301), the Second Comprehensive Scientific Expedition on the Tibetan Plateau (2019QZKK0705), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41872001), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (QYZDY-SSW-DQC022), and the Special Research Program of Basic Science and Technology of the Ministry of Science and Technology (2015FY310100).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability

The output results of the strain energy and the maximum von Mises stress are included in Supplementary Table S1 and S2. All the result calculated by the higher specific tension of muscular fibres (0.37 N/mm²) are shown in the Figure S1, S2 and Table S3, S4, S5.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [41872001]; the Special Research Program of Basic Science and Technology of the Ministry of Science and Technology [2015FY310100]; the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences [XDA20070203, XDB26000000, XDA20070301]; the Second Comprehensive Scientific Expedition on the Tibetan Plateau [2019QZKK0705]; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences [QYZDY-SSW-DQC022].