Relationship between skeletal morphology and gait system in quadrupedal tetrapods with implications to gait reconstructions of extinct taxa

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K17794
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Evolutionary biology; Stratigraphy/Paleontology
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Fujiwara Shin-ichi 名古屋大学, 博物館, 講師 (30571236)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 機能形態 / 運動様式 / 姿勢 / 重心 / 飛翔

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study focused on exploring the relationship between skeletal morphology and locomotor strategies among tetrapods.
In the first project, 3D-images of squamate skeleton were used to reconstruct the outlier of the body, and then the center of mass positions (COM) were estimated. After the method seemed valid for estimating the COM from the 3D skeletal morphology, the method was applied to estimate the COM of ornithischian dinosaurs, and their limb postures were re-considered.
In the next project, the strength of the coracoid bone against bending force and the flapping ability were compared among birds.

Free Research Field

機能形態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、一義的には動物のもつ体の形態と運動への適応の関係について新たな知見をもたらしたものである。これらの成果は、絶滅動物がどのように生きていたかについて、より確からしさを伴う復元を行うための重要な根拠となる。そして、その成果の一端は博物館の展示や映像作品、絵画作品などに反映されるほか、それらに附随する科学的根拠を示した解説を通じて、科学に対する興味関心を引き出す一助となるであろう。