Are cursorial birds good kinematic models of non-avian theropods?
Author
dc.contributor.author
Grossi, Bruno
Author
dc.contributor.author
Loncomilla, Patricio
Author
dc.contributor.author
Canals Lambarri, Mauricio
Author
dc.contributor.author
Ruiz del Solar, Javier
Admission date
dc.date.accessioned
2019-10-30T15:26:03Z
Available date
dc.date.available
2019-10-30T15:26:03Z
Publication date
dc.date.issued
2019
Cita de ítem
dc.identifier.citation
International Journal of Morphology, Volumen 37, Issue 2, 2019, Pages 620-625
Identifier
dc.identifier.issn
07179502
Identifier
dc.identifier.issn
07179367
Identifier
dc.identifier.other
10.4067/S0717-95022019000200620
Identifier
dc.identifier.uri
https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/172394
Abstract
dc.description.abstract
Determining kinematics of hindlimbs of theropod dinosaurs has been a challenge. Since cursorial birds are phylogenetically closest to theropod dinosaurs they are commonly used as a kinematic model of theropod dinosaur locomotion. Using a comparative biomechanical approach, we found that cursorial birds have a different morphology of legs than non avian theropodos and that appears to be that felines and ungulates share more morphological properties in the hindlimbs with theropod dinosaurs than cursorial birds. We calculated the ratio between the lower leg and the femur, and the relative length of the tibia and the metatarsus with respect to the length of the femur in cursorial birds, as well as felines, ungulates and non-avian theropods. We found that as the length of the femur increases, the length of the lower leg increases similarly in felines, ungulates and non-avian theropods. On the other hand, existing and extinct cursorial birds did not follow this pattern. This observation suggests that the hindlimb of cursorial birds are not well suited to serve as kinematic models for hindlimb of extinct theropod dinosaur locomotion.