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The pelvis as an anatomical indicator for facultative bipedality and substrate use in lepidosaurs

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Grinham, Luke R 
Norman, David B 

Abstract

jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pFacultative bipedality is regarded as an enigmatic middle ground in the evolution of obligate bipedality and is associated with high mechanical demands in extant lepidosaurs. Traits linked with this phenomenon are largely associated with the caudal end of the animal: hindlimbs and tail. The articulation of the pelvis with both of these structures suggests a morphofunctional role in the use of a facultative locomotor mode. Using a three-dimensional geometric morphometric approach, we examine the pelvic osteology and associated functional implications for 34 species of extant lepidosaur. Anatomical trends associated with the use of a bipedal locomotor mode and substrate preferences are correlated and functionally interpreted based on musculoskeletal descriptions. Changes in pelvic osteology associated with a facultatively bipedal locomotor mode are similar to those observed in species preferring arboreal substrates, indicating shared functionality between these ecologies.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

ecology, facultative bipedality, functional anatomy, geometric morphometrics, locomotion

Journal Title

BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0024-4066
1095-8312

Volume Title

129

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Rights

All rights reserved