[dinosaur] Crocodylia terrestrial locomotor abilities evolution + Purussaurus axial skeleton (free pdfs)

Ben Creisler <[email protected]> Tue, 17 Dec 2019 08:01:45 -0800
Newsgroups gmane.science.dinosaurs.general
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Ben [email protected]=0A=0A=0ANew papers with free pdfs:=0A=0A=
=0AJohn R. Hutchinson, Dean Felkler, Kati Houston, Yu-Mei Chang, John=0ABru=
eggen, David Kledzik & Kent A. Vliet  (2019)=0ADivergent evolution of terre=
strial locomotor abilities in extant Crocodylia.=0AScientific Reports 9, Ar=
ticle number: 19302=0Adoi:  https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=3Dht=
tps-3A__doi.org_10.1038_s41598-2D019-2D55768-2D6&d=3DDwIFaQ&c=3DclK7kQUTWtA=
VEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=3DRy_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJg=
FW9SI&m=3DcgGVIEd-aiOO21ODrrZQSzEsLJP8-pauH1os2QdhkYk&s=3DrKt32XuuK26KnY7lo=
0gG_p_A90UX0WEih7HNxUAhfo4&e=3D=20=0Ahttps://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/u=
rl?u=3Dhttps-3A__www.nature.com_articles_s41598-2D019-2D55768-2D6&d=3DDwIFa=
Q&c=3DclK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=3DRy_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZ=
gecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=3DcgGVIEd-aiOO21ODrrZQSzEsLJP8-pauH1os2QdhkYk&s=3D=
QCe54aE-KzYbFI6hHOAgX7VwkoyW-yKdXDbivYQmRxM&e=3D=20=0A=0AFree pdf:=0Ahttps:=
//urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=3Dhttps-3A__www.nature.com_articles_s4=
1598-2D019-2D55768-2D6.pdf&d=3DDwIFaQ&c=3DclK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8=
p7CSfnc_gI&r=3DRy_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=3DcgGVIEd-aiOO=
21ODrrZQSzEsLJP8-pauH1os2QdhkYk&s=3DxFePh4r7peAv9BJ_Evqx_EX34-TF3Nb11h9G8O_=
YiMw&e=3D=20=0A=0A=0AExtant Crocodylia are exceptional because they employ =
almost the full range=0Aof quadrupedal footfall patterns ("gaits") used by =
mammals; including=0Aasymmetrical gaits such as galloping and bounding. Per=
haps this capacity=0Aevolved in stem Crocodylomorpha, during the Triassic w=
hen taxa were=0Asmaller, terrestrial, and long-legged. However, confusion a=
bout which=0ACrocodylia use asymmetrical gaits and why persists, impeding=
=0Areconstructions of locomotor evolution. Our experimental gait analysis o=
f=0Alocomotor kinematics across 42 individuals from 15 species of Crocodyli=
a=0Aobtained 184 data points for a wide velocity range (0.15=E2=80=934.35 m=
s=E2=88=921). Our=0Aresults suggest either that asymmetrical gaits are ance=
stral for Crocodylia=0Aand lost in the alligator lineage, or that asymmetri=
cal gaits evolved=0Awithin Crocodylia at the base of the crocodile line. Re=
gardless, we=0Arecorded usage of asymmetrical gaits in 7 species of Crocody=
loidea=0A(crocodiles); including novel documentation of these behaviours in=
 5=0Aspecies (3 critically endangered). Larger Crocodylia use relatively le=
ss=0Aextreme gait kinematics consistent with steeply decreasing athletic ab=
ility=0Awith size. We found differences between asymmetrical and symmetrica=
l gaits=0Ain Crocodylia: asymmetrical gaits involved greater size-normalize=
d stride=0Afrequencies and smaller duty factors (relative ground contact ti=
mes),=0Aconsistent with increased mechanical demands. Remarkably, these gai=
ts did=0Anot differ in maximal velocities obtained: whether in Alligatoroid=
ea or=0ACrocodyloidea, trotting or bounding achieved similar velocities, re=
vealing=0Athat the alligator lineage is capable of hitherto unappreciated e=
xtreme=0Alocomotor performance despite a lack of asymmetrical gait usage. H=
ence=0Aasymmetrical gaits have benefits other than velocity capacity that e=
xplain=0Atheir prevalence in Crocodyloidea and absence in Alligatoroidea=E2=
=80=94and their=0Abroader evolution.=0A=0A=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=0A=0A=0ATorsten M Scheyer Is a corresponding author, John R Hu=
tchinson, Olivier=0AStrauss, Massimo Delfino, Jorge D Carrillo-Brice=C3=B1o=
, Rodolfo S=C3=A1nchez &=0AMarcelo R S=C3=A1nchez-Villagra (2019)=0AGiant e=
xtinct caiman breaks constraint on the axial skeleton of extant=0Acrocodyli=
ans.=0AeLife 8:e49972=0ADOI: 10.7554/eLife.49972=0Ahttps://urldefense.proof=
point.com/v2/url?u=3Dhttps-3A__elifesciences.org_articles_49972&d=3DDwIFaQ&=
c=3DclK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=3DRy_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZge=
cRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=3DcgGVIEd-aiOO21ODrrZQSzEsLJP8-pauH1os2QdhkYk&s=3D6Q=
QsIfy1kASVqr5U2YrnTtM1L5cT_kmuDCQ8C77olDQ&e=3D=20=0A=0A=0AThe number of pre=
caudal vertebrae in all extant crocodylians is remarkably=0Aconservative, w=
ith nine cervicals, 15 dorsals and two sacrals, a pattern=0Apresent also in=
 their closest extinct relatives. The consistent vertebral=0Acount indicate=
s a tight control of axial patterning by Hox genes during=0Adevelopment. He=
re we report on a deviation from this pattern based on an=0Aassociated skel=
eton of the giant caimanine Purussaurus, a member of crown=0ACrocodylia, an=
d several other specimens from the Neogene of the northern=0Aneotropics. P.=
 mirandai is the first crown-crocodylian to have three=0Asacrals, two true =
sacral vertebrae and one non-pathological and functional=0Adorsosacral, to =
articulate with the ilium (pelvis). The giant body size of=0Athis caiman re=
lates to locomotory and postural changes. The iliosacral=0Aconfiguration, a=
 more vertically oriented pectoral girdle, and low torsion=0Aof the femoral=
 head relative to the condyles are hypothesized=0Aspecializations for more =
upright limb orientation or weight support.=0A=0A=3D=3D=0A=0ABlog and news:=
=0A=0Ahttps://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=3Dhttps-3A__whatsinjohnsfr=
eezer.com_2019_12_17_crimbo-2Dcrocodylia_&d=3DDwIFaQ&c=3DclK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgv=
i0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=3DRy_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=
=3DcgGVIEd-aiOO21ODrrZQSzEsLJP8-pauH1os2QdhkYk&s=3DPzXFhzhD0VCtM0Z4exW5pkuJ=
pJSvAnh1e0JbmA1WqDc&e=3D=20=0A=0Ahttps://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=
=3Dhttps-3A__www.sciencefocus.com_news_ancient-2D8-2Dmetre-2Dcrocodile-2Dne=
eded-2Dextra-2Dbones-2Dto-2Dmove-2Daround_&d=3DDwIFaQ&c=3DclK7kQUTWtAVEOVIg=
vi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=3DRy_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&=
m=3DcgGVIEd-aiOO21ODrrZQSzEsLJP8-pauH1os2QdhkYk&s=3DOy75c2f-U91EROHWRT63DsI=
zpZfBF6Tw4sjxqbTNiQs&e=3D=20=0A=0Ahttps://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?=
u=3Dhttps-3A__www.irishnews.com_magazine_science_2019_12_17_news_how-2Ddid-=
2Dgiant-2Dancient-2Dcrocodiles-2Dthrow-2Dtheir-2Dweight-2Daround-2D-2D17930=
32_&d=3DDwIFaQ&c=3DclK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=3DRy_mO4IF=
aUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=3DcgGVIEd-aiOO21ODrrZQSzEsLJP8-pauH1o=
s2QdhkYk&s=3DT-lYU9xXSzh0KJq3h83mAxSU7myYSr0NmNPMKxR6gIA&e=3D=20=0A=

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div><br></div>Ben Creisler<div><a href=3D"mailto:bcreisle=
[email protected]">[email protected]</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><di=
v>New papers with free pdfs:<br><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>John R. =
Hutchinson, Dean Felkler, Kati Houston, Yu-Mei Chang, John Brueggen, David =
Kledzik &amp; Kent A. Vliet =C2=A0(2019)<br>Divergent evolution of terrestr=
ial locomotor abilities in extant Crocodylia.<br>Scientific Reports 9, Arti=
cle number: 19302 <br>doi: =C2=A0<a href=3D"https://urldefense.proofpoint.c=
om/v2/url?u=3Dhttps-3A__doi.org_10.1038_s41598-2D019-2D55768-2D6&amp;d=3DDw=
MFaQ&amp;c=3DclK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&amp;r=3DRy_mO4IFaU=
mGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&amp;m=3DcgGVIEd-aiOO21ODrrZQSzEsLJP8-pauH=
1os2QdhkYk&amp;s=3DrKt32XuuK26KnY7lo0gG_p_A90UX0WEih7HNxUAhfo4&amp;e=3D">ht=
tps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-55768-6</a><br><a href=3D"https://urldefen=
se.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=3Dhttps-3A__www.nature.com_articles_s41598-2D019=
-2D55768-2D6&amp;d=3DDwMFaQ&amp;c=3DclK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfn=
c_gI&amp;r=3DRy_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&amp;m=3DcgGVIEd-ai=
OO21ODrrZQSzEsLJP8-pauH1os2QdhkYk&amp;s=3DQCe54aE-KzYbFI6hHOAgX7VwkoyW-yKdX=
DbivYQmRxM&amp;e=3D">https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-55768-6</a>=
</div><div><br>Free pdf:<br><a href=3D"https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2=
/url?u=3Dhttps-3A__www.nature.com_articles_s41598-2D019-2D55768-2D6.pdf&amp=
;d=3DDwMFaQ&amp;c=3DclK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&amp;r=3DRy_=
mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&amp;m=3DcgGVIEd-aiOO21ODrrZQSzEsLJ=
P8-pauH1os2QdhkYk&amp;s=3DxFePh4r7peAv9BJ_Evqx_EX34-TF3Nb11h9G8O_YiMw&amp;e=
=3D">https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-55768-6.pdf</a></div><div><=
br><br>Extant Crocodylia are exceptional because they employ almost the ful=
l range of quadrupedal footfall patterns (&quot;gaits&quot;) used by mammal=
s; including asymmetrical gaits such as galloping and bounding. Perhaps thi=
s capacity evolved in stem Crocodylomorpha, during the Triassic when taxa w=
ere smaller, terrestrial, and long-legged. However, confusion about which C=
rocodylia use asymmetrical gaits and why persists, impeding reconstructions=
 of locomotor evolution. Our experimental gait analysis of locomotor kinema=
tics across 42 individuals from 15 species of Crocodylia obtained 184 data =
points for a wide velocity range (0.15=E2=80=934.35=E2=80=89ms=E2=88=921). =
Our results suggest either that asymmetrical gaits are ancestral for Crocod=
ylia and lost in the alligator lineage, or that asymmetrical gaits evolved =
within Crocodylia at the base of the crocodile line. Regardless, we recorde=
d usage of asymmetrical gaits in 7 species of Crocodyloidea (crocodiles); i=
ncluding novel documentation of these behaviours in 5 species (3 critically=
 endangered). Larger Crocodylia use relatively less extreme gait kinematics=
 consistent with steeply decreasing athletic ability with size. We found di=
fferences between asymmetrical and symmetrical gaits in Crocodylia: asymmet=
rical gaits involved greater size-normalized stride frequencies and smaller=
 duty factors (relative ground contact times), consistent with increased me=
chanical demands. Remarkably, these gaits did not differ in maximal velocit=
ies obtained: whether in Alligatoroidea or Crocodyloidea, trotting or bound=
ing achieved similar velocities, revealing that the alligator lineage is ca=
pable of hitherto unappreciated extreme locomotor performance despite a lac=
k of asymmetrical gait usage. Hence asymmetrical gaits have benefits other =
than velocity capacity that explain their prevalence in Crocodyloidea and a=
bsence in Alligatoroidea=E2=80=94and their broader evolution.<br><br>=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<br></div><div><br></div><div><br></=
div><div>Torsten M Scheyer Is a corresponding author, John R Hutchinson, Ol=
ivier Strauss, Massimo Delfino, Jorge D Carrillo-Brice=C3=B1o, Rodolfo S=C3=
=A1nchez &amp; Marcelo R S=C3=A1nchez-Villagra (2019)<br>Giant extinct caim=
an breaks constraint on the axial skeleton of extant crocodylians.<br>eLife=
 8:e49972 <br>DOI: 10.7554/eLife.49972<br><a href=3D"https://urldefense.pro=
ofpoint.com/v2/url?u=3Dhttps-3A__elifesciences.org_articles_49972&amp;d=3DD=
wMFaQ&amp;c=3DclK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&amp;r=3DRy_mO4IFa=
UmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&amp;m=3DcgGVIEd-aiOO21ODrrZQSzEsLJP8-pau=
H1os2QdhkYk&amp;s=3D6QQsIfy1kASVqr5U2YrnTtM1L5cT_kmuDCQ8C77olDQ&amp;e=3D">h=
ttps://elifesciences.org/articles/49972</a></div><div><br><br>The number of=
 precaudal vertebrae in all extant crocodylians is remarkably conservative,=
 with nine cervicals, 15 dorsals and two sacrals, a pattern present also in=
 their closest extinct relatives. The consistent vertebral count indicates =
a tight control of axial patterning by Hox genes during development. Here w=
e report on a deviation from this pattern based on an associated skeleton o=
f the giant caimanine Purussaurus, a member of crown Crocodylia, and severa=
l other specimens from the Neogene of the northern neotropics. P. mirandai =
is the first crown-crocodylian to have three sacrals, two true sacral verte=
brae and one non-pathological and functional dorsosacral, to articulate wit=
h the ilium (pelvis). The giant body size of this caiman relates to locomot=
ory and postural changes. The iliosacral configuration, a more vertically o=
riented pectoral girdle, and low torsion of the femoral head relative to th=
e condyles are hypothesized specializations for more upright limb orientati=
on or weight support.<br><br>=3D=3D<br></div><div><br></div><div>Blog and n=
ews:</div><div><br><a href=3D"https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=3D=
https-3A__whatsinjohnsfreezer.com_2019_12_17_crimbo-2Dcrocodylia_&amp;d=3DD=
wMFaQ&amp;c=3DclK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&amp;r=3DRy_mO4IFa=
UmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&amp;m=3DcgGVIEd-aiOO21ODrrZQSzEsLJP8-pau=
H1os2QdhkYk&amp;s=3DPzXFhzhD0VCtM0Z4exW5pkuJpJSvAnh1e0JbmA1WqDc&amp;e=3D">h=
ttps://whatsinjohnsfreezer.com/2019/12/17/crimbo-crocodylia/</a><br><br><a =
href=3D"https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=3Dhttps-3A__www.sciencef=
ocus.com_news_ancient-2D8-2Dmetre-2Dcrocodile-2Dneeded-2Dextra-2Dbones-2Dto=
-2Dmove-2Daround_&amp;d=3DDwMFaQ&amp;c=3DclK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p=
7CSfnc_gI&amp;r=3DRy_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&amp;m=3DcgGVI=
Ed-aiOO21ODrrZQSzEsLJP8-pauH1os2QdhkYk&amp;s=3DOy75c2f-U91EROHWRT63DsIzpZfB=
F6Tw4sjxqbTNiQs&amp;e=3D">https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/ancient-8-metre=
-crocodile-needed-extra-bones-to-move-around/</a></div><div><br><a href=3D"=
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=3Dhttps-3A__www.irishnews.com_ma=
gazine_science_2019_12_17_news_how-2Ddid-2Dgiant-2Dancient-2Dcrocodiles-2Dt=
hrow-2Dtheir-2Dweight-2Daround-2D-2D1793032_&amp;d=3DDwMFaQ&amp;c=3DclK7kQU=
TWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&amp;r=3DRy_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5=
g4z1CYJgFW9SI&amp;m=3DcgGVIEd-aiOO21ODrrZQSzEsLJP8-pauH1os2QdhkYk&amp;s=3DT=
-lYU9xXSzh0KJq3h83mAxSU7myYSr0NmNPMKxR6gIA&amp;e=3D">https://www.irishnews.=
com/magazine/science/2019/12/17/news/how-did-giant-ancient-crocodiles-throw=
-their-weight-around--1793032/</a><br></div></div></div>=0A=

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