Wyniki wyszukiwania

Wyszukiwano:
w słowach kluczowych: pygostyle

Sortuj według:

Ogranicz wyniki do:

Artykuł dostępny w postaci pełnego tekstu - kliknij by otworzyć plik

Oviraptorosaur tail forms and functions

100%

Persons,IV W. S., Currie P. J., Norell M. A.

Acta Palaeontologica Polonica

2014

tom 59

nr 3

Oviraptorosaur caudal osteology is unique among theropods and is characterized by posteriorly persistent and exceptionally wide transverse processes, anteroposteriorly short centra, and a high degree of flexibility across the pre-pygostyle vertebral series. Three-dimensional digital muscle reconstructions reveal that, while oviraptorosaur tails were reduced in length relative to the tails of other theropods, they were muscularly robust. Despite overall caudal length reduction, the relative size of the M. caudofemoralis in most oviraptorosaurs was comparable with those of other non-avian theropods. The discovery of a second Nomingia specimen with a pygostyle confirms that the fused terminal vertebrae of the type specimen were not an abnormality. New evidence shows that pygostyles were also present in the oviraptorosaurs Citipati and Conchoraptor. Based on the observed osteological morphology and inferred muscle morphology, along with the recognition that many members of the group probably sported broad tail-feather fans, it is postulated that oviraptorosaur tails were uniquely adapted to serve as dynamic intraspecific display structures. Similarities, including a reduced vertebral series and a terminal pygostyle, between the tails of oviraptorosaurs and the tails of theropods widely accepted as basal members of the Avialae, appear to be convergences.

Ograniczanie wyników

1 Acta Palaeontologica Polonica

1 Currie P. J.

1 Norell M. A.

1 Persons,IV W. S.

1 2014

Wyniki wyszukiwania

Oviraptorosaur tail forms and functions