Reconstructing dinosaur locomotion

Biology Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 21(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Dinosaur locomotor biomechanics are of major interest. Locomotion an animal affects many, if not most, aspects life reconstruction, including behaviour, performance, ecology and appearance. Yet locomotion is one aspect non-avian dinosaurs that we cannot directly observe. To shed light on how moved, must draw from multiple sources evidence. Extant taxa provide the basic principles locomotion, bracket soft-tissue reconstructions validation data for methods hypotheses applied to dinosaurs. The skeletal evidence itself can be used reconstruct posture, range motion mass (segment whole-body). Building reconstructions, musculoskeletal models inform muscle function form basis simulations test performance. Finally, fossilized footprints our only direct record important snapshots extinct animals, shedding speed, gait posture. confident dinosaur requires all four information. This review explores recent work in these areas, with a methodological focus.

Language: Английский

---

New insights into the postcranial anatomy of Exaeretodon riograndensis (Eucynodontia: Traversodontidae): phylogenetic implications, body mass, and lifestyle

Journal of Mammalian Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 32(1)

Published: Jan. 24, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Theropod guild structure and the tyrannosaurid niche assimilation hypothesis: implications for predatory dinosaur macroecology and ontogeny in later Late Cretaceous Asiamerica¹

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 58(9), P. 778 - 795

Published: June 17, 2021

Well-sampled dinosaur communities from the Jurassic through early Late Cretaceous show greater taxonomic diversity among larger (>50 kg) theropod taxa than of Campano-Maastrichtian, particularly to those eastern/central Asia and Laramidia. The large carnivore guilds in Asiamerican assemblages are monopolized by tyrannosaurids, with adult medium-sized (50–500 predators rare or absent. In contrast, various clades theropods found occupy these body sizes earlier faunas, including tyrannosauroids. Assemblages “missing middle-sized” not have correspondingly sparser potential prey species recorded same faunas. niches Laramidia may been assimilated juvenile subadults tyrannosaurid species, functionally distinct their ecomorphologies. It is speculated that if tyrannosaurids previously occupied mid-sized predators, we would expect evolution transitions morphology possibly delay achievement somatic maturity this taxon.

Language: Английский

---

Global latitudinal gradients and the evolution of body size in dinosaurs and mammals

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: April 5, 2024

Abstract Global climate patterns fundamentally shape the distribution of species and ecosystems. For example, Bergmann’s rule predicts that homeothermic animals, including birds mammals, inhabiting cooler climates are generally larger than close relatives from warmer climates. The modern world, however, lacks comparative data needed to evaluate such macroecological rules rigorously. Here, we test for in Mesozoic dinosaurs mammaliaforms radiated within relatively temperate global regimes. We develop a phylogenetic model accounts biases fossil record allows variable evolutionary dispersal rates. Our analysis also includes new extreme high-latitude Late Cretaceous Arctic Prince Creek Formation. find no evidence or mammaliaforms, ancestors extant mammals. When our is applied thousands dinosaur (bird) mammal species, body size evolution remains independent latitude. A modest temperature effect found extant, but not Mesozoic, birds, suggesting was influenced by during Cenozoic climatic change. study provides general approach studying rules, highlighting record’s power address longstanding ecological principles.

Language: Английский

---

Report of a giant titanosaur sauropod from the Upper Cretaceous of Neuquén Province, Argentina

Cretaceous Research, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 122, P. 104754 - 104754

Published: Jan. 13, 2021

Language: Английский

---

Cautionary tales on the use of proxies to estimate body size and form of extinct animals

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(9)

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Abstract Body size is of fundamental importance to our understanding extinct organisms. Physiology, ecology and life history are all strongly influenced by body shape, which ultimately determine how a species interacts with its environment. Reconstruction form in animals provides insight into the dynamics underlying community composition faunal turnover past ecosystems broad macroevolutionary trends. Many known only from incomplete remains, necessitating use anatomical proxies reconstruct form. Numerous limitations affecting appropriateness these often overlooked, leading controversy downstream inaccuracies studies for reconstructions represent key input data. In this perspective, we discuss four prominent case ( Dunkleosteus , Helicoprion Megalodon Perucetus ) proxy taxa have been used estimate shape fragmentary remains. We synthesise results other nuances validity taxon selection when reconstructing organisms, as well mitigation measures that can ensure most appropriate proxy. argue precautionary necessary maximise robustness better evolutionary ecological inferences.

Language: Английский

---

Evolution of hind limb morphology of Titanosauriformes (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) analyzed via 3D Geometric Morphometrics reveals wide-gauge posture as an exaptation for gigantism

Published: Feb. 21, 2025

The sauropod hind limb was the main support that allowed their gigantic body masses and a wide range of dynamic stability adaptations. It closely related to position centre multi-ton barrel-shaped bodies, experienced one most noticeable posture changes during macronarian evolution. Deeply branched macronarians achieved increasingly arched limbs in what is known as wide-gauge posture. However, it not clear if this evolutionary trend cascade toward gigantism even though some titanosaurians were largest terrestrial vertebrates ever existed. We tested morphology Macronaria phylogenetic tree by 3D geometric morphometrics. does become progressively more deeply-branched groups, specifically Saltasauridae. there morphological convergence between different subclades. Wide-gauge correlate with size deeper tree, acted an exaptation gigantism. Despite titanosaurian subclades becoming vertebrates, statistically-significant particular but we identify phyletic decrease Macronaria.

Language: Английский

---

Epidermal scale growth, allometry and function in non‐avian dinosaurs and extant reptiles

Journal of Anatomy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 18, 2025

Abstract Epidermal scales in sauropsids perform a wide array of biological functions, which can relate to their shape and size. Accordingly, growth‐related changes scale morphology may reflect distinct functions between juvenile adult individuals, such as use mating interactions. Such patterns are poorly explored both extant reptiles non‐avian dinosaurs, limiting functional interpretations. Here, we investigate growth the ornithischian ceratopsid Chasmosaurus belli hadrosaurid Prosaurolophus maximus by comparing morphologies juveniles adults each taxon. Scale is generally consistent across stages taxa, C. feature length cannot reject isometry. However, there greater increase width. In practical terms, magnitude these size differences rejects hypothesis that played role interactions, suggesting instead was largely non‐adaptive. To contextualise sampled assessed allometry using an ecologically diverse sample eight reptile species belonging Crocodylidae, Scincidae, Elapidae Pythonidae. While isometry overall most frequent pattern our reptiles, demonstrate positive at least one area bodies, likely response changing body proportions. shapes studied species, retained through growth. This study provides first detailed assessment skin supporting morphological stasis scales.

Language: Английский

---

Deep learning-aided segmentation combined with finite element analysis reveals a more natural biomechanic of dinosaur fossil

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: April 22, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Maniraptoran pelvic musculature highlights evolutionary patterns in theropod locomotion on the line to birds

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9, P. e10855 - e10855

Published: March 4, 2021

Locomotion is a fundamental aspect of palaeobiology and often investigated by comparing osteological structures proportions. Previous studies document stepwise accumulation avian-like features in theropod dinosaurs that accelerates the clade Maniraptora. However, soft tissues influenced skeleton offer another perspective on locomotory adaptations. Examination pelvis for correlates hind limb tail musculature allowed reconstruction primary muscles across theropods their closest extant relatives. Additionally, areas pelvic muscle origins were quantified to measure relative differences within between taxa, compare morphological associated with cursoriality, insight into evolution locomotor modules. Locomotory inferences based myology corroborate those osteology, although they occasionally conflict indicate greater complexity than previously appreciated. Maniraptoran underscores previous noting multifaceted nature cursoriality suggests more punctuated step caudal decoupling occurred at or near base

Language: Английский

---