The pes of Australovenator wintonensis (Theropoda: Megaraptoridae): analysis of the pedal range of motion and biological restoration

PeerJ

article

Matt A. White¹  Alex G. Cook²  Ada J. Klinkhamer²  David A. Elliott² 

[1] School of Engineering, University of Newcastle;Palaeontology;School of Earth Sciences, University of Queensland;School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England

关键词: Australovenator;    Theropod;    Pes;    Reconstruction;    Range of motion;    Dinosaurs;    Foot print;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.2312

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

The pedal range of motion in Australovenator wintonensis is investigated to determine what influence soft tissue had on range of motion in the foot. Fortunately, the theropod pes shares a close morphology with extant large cursorial birds. Therefore, to better understand the pedal range of motion of Australovenator, the pedal range of motion of Dromaius novaehollandiae (commonly known as the emu) was analysed with and without soft tissue. We used a variety of innovative digital techniques to analyse the range of motion and biologically restore the Australovenator pes. Computed tomography scans of Dromaius pes in fully flexed and fully extended positions provided the soft tissue range of motion limits. The bone on bone range of motion of the same specimen was replicated following the removal of soft tissue. It was identified that there was an increase in range of motion potential with the removal of soft tissue. This variation provided a guide to develop the potential range of motion of a fully fleshed Australovenator pes. Additionally, the dissection of the Dromaius pes provided a guide enabling the replication of the corresponding soft tissue and keratin sheaths of the Australovenator pes.

【 授权许可】

CC BY