Skip to main content
bioRxiv
  • Home
  • About
  • Submit
  • ALERTS / RSS
Advanced Search
New Results

The fast and the frugal: Divergent locomotory strategies drive limb lengthening in theropod dinosaurs

View ORCID ProfileT. Alexander Dececchi, Aleksandra M. Mloszewska, Thomas R. Holtz Jr., Michael B. Habib, Hans C.E. Larsson
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/785238
T. Alexander Dececchi
1Department of Biology, Division of Natural Sciences, Mount Marty College, Yankton, South Dakota, United States of America
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for T. Alexander Dececchi
  • For correspondence: alex.dececchi@mtmc.edu
Aleksandra M. Mloszewska
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Thomas R. Holtz Jr.
3Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
4Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, United States of America
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Michael B. Habib
5Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Hans C.E. Larsson
6Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Abstract
  • Full Text
  • Info/History
  • Metrics
  • Preview PDF
Loading

Abstract

Limb length, cursoriality and speed have long been areas of significant interest in theropod paleobiology as locomotory capacity, especially running ability, is critical in not just in prey pursuit but also to avoid become prey oneself. One aspect that is traditionally overlooked is the impact of allometry on running ability and the limiting effect of large body size. Since several different non-avian theropod lineages have each independently evolved body sizes greater than any known terrestrial carnivorous mammal, ∼1000kg or more, the effect that such larger mass has on movement ability and energetics is an area with significant implications for Mesozoic paleoecology. Here using expansive datasets, incorporating several different metrics to estimate body size, limb length and running speed, to calculate the effects of allometry running We test both on traditional metrics used to evaluate cursoriality in non-avian theropods such as distal limb length, relative hindlimb length as well as comparing the energetic cost savings of relative hindlimb elongation between members of the Tyrannosauridae and more basal megacarnivores such as Allosauroids or Ceratosauridae. We find that once the limiting effects of body size increase is incorporated, no commonly used metric including the newly suggested distal limb index (Tibia + Metatarsus/ Femur length) shows a significant correlation to top speed. The data also shows a significant split between large and small bodied theropods in terms of maximizing running potential suggesting two distinct strategies for promoting limb elongation based on the organisms’ size. For small and medium sized theropods increased leg length seems to correlate with a desire to increase top speed while amongst larger taxa it corresponds more closely to energetic efficiency and reducing foraging costs. We also find, using 3D volumetric mass estimates, that the Tyrannosauridae show significant cost of transport savings compared to more basal clades, indicating reduced energy expenditures during foraging and likely reduced need for hunting forays. This suggests that amongst theropods while no one strategy dictated hindlimb evolution. Amongst smaller bodied taxa the competing pressures of being both a predator and a prey item dominant while larger ones, freed from predation pressure, seek to maximize foraging ability. We also discuss the implications both for interactions amongst specific clades and Mesozoic paleobiology and paleoecological reconstructions as a whole.

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. This article is a US Government work. It is not subject to copyright under 17 USC 105 and is also made available for use under a CC0 license.
Back to top
PreviousNext
Posted September 27, 2019.
Download PDF
Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv.

NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
The fast and the frugal: Divergent locomotory strategies drive limb lengthening in theropod dinosaurs
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from bioRxiv
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the bioRxiv website.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Share
The fast and the frugal: Divergent locomotory strategies drive limb lengthening in theropod dinosaurs
T. Alexander Dececchi, Aleksandra M. Mloszewska, Thomas R. Holtz Jr., Michael B. Habib, Hans C.E. Larsson
bioRxiv 785238; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/785238
Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Google logo LinkedIn logo Mendeley logo
Citation Tools
The fast and the frugal: Divergent locomotory strategies drive limb lengthening in theropod dinosaurs
T. Alexander Dececchi, Aleksandra M. Mloszewska, Thomas R. Holtz Jr., Michael B. Habib, Hans C.E. Larsson
bioRxiv 785238; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/785238

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Subject Area

  • Paleontology
Subject Areas
All Articles
  • Animal Behavior and Cognition (3592)
  • Biochemistry (7562)
  • Bioengineering (5508)
  • Bioinformatics (20762)
  • Biophysics (10309)
  • Cancer Biology (7967)
  • Cell Biology (11627)
  • Clinical Trials (138)
  • Developmental Biology (6602)
  • Ecology (10190)
  • Epidemiology (2065)
  • Evolutionary Biology (13594)
  • Genetics (9532)
  • Genomics (12834)
  • Immunology (7917)
  • Microbiology (19525)
  • Molecular Biology (7651)
  • Neuroscience (42027)
  • Paleontology (307)
  • Pathology (1254)
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology (2196)
  • Physiology (3263)
  • Plant Biology (7029)
  • Scientific Communication and Education (1294)
  • Synthetic Biology (1949)
  • Systems Biology (5422)
  • Zoology (1114)