Locomotion Lagerpeton

1 locomotion

1.1 neural spines
1.2 pelvic girdle
1.3 didactyl foot

locomotion

it has been suggested extant analogues similar l. chanarensis small bipedal mammals, saltators. 3 morphological characteristics in l. chanarensis fossils have been putatively cited evidence of saltation in taxon.

neural spines

the neural spines of posterior dorsal vertebrae inclined anteriorly, character not observed in other archosaur, common in saltatory mammals. feature suggested allow greater vertebral flexibility, correlated leaping , bounding locomotor styles.

pelvic girdle

relative hindlimb length, pelvic girdle remarkably small. distance pelvic girdle femur therefore small, more other archosaurs apart closely related taxa. reduction in distance may increase force production during hip extension in extant small mammals.

didactyl foot

the narrow , functionally didactyl pes further similarity modern saltators. condensing single unit, metatarsus gains strength without drawback of increased weight. appears that, consequently reduction of digit ii, digit iv may have elongated balance pes.

the hypothesis of saltatorial locomotion debated, however. vertebral adaptations of extant organisms exceed seen in lagerpeton; sacral vertebrae of modern saltators fused , neural spines reduced. furthermore, size of pelvic girdle , lateral digital reduction may equally used evidence cursorial locomotion.