Divergent locomotor evolution in "giant" kangaroos: Evidence from foot bone bending resistances and microanatomy.

ABSTRACT: The extinct sthenurine (giant, short-faced) kangaroos have been proposed to have a different type of locomotor behavior to extant (macropodine) kangaroos, based both on physical limitations (the size of many exceeds the proposed limit for hopping) and anatomical features (features of the hind limb anatomy suggestive of weight-bearing on one leg at a time). Here, we use micro computerised tomography (micro-CT) scans of the pedal bones of six kangaroos, three sthenurine, and three macropodine, ranging from ~50 to 150 kg, to investigate possible differences in bone resistances to bending and cortical bone distribution that might relate to differences in locomotion. Using second moment of area analysis, we show differences in resistance to bending between the two subfamilies. Distribution of c

SUBMITTER: Wagstaffe AY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9303454 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature