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Simulating sauropod manus-only trackway formation using finite-element analysis.

P L Falkingham1, K T Bates, L Margetts

  • 1School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Science, University of Manchester, Williamson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. peter.falkingham@manchester.ac.uk

Biology Letters
|July 2, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Sauropod trackways, like manus-only traces, are explained by finite-element analysis. Different dinosaur foot pressures on varied substrates create distinct tracks, potentially linking trace fossils to specific dinosaur species.

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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Biomechanics
  • Ichmology

Background:

  • Sauropod manus-only trackways are poorly understood, hindering insights into dinosaur locomotion and behavior.
  • Finite-element analysis offers a method to model substrate indentation by dinosaur feet.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the causative mechanisms behind sauropod manus-only trackways.
  • To model substrate deformation based on dinosaur foot pressure and substrate properties.

Main Methods:

  • Finite-element analysis was used to model substrate indentation by the feet of Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus.
  • Predictions of mass, center of mass, and foot surface area were applied to various substrates to simulate track formation.

Main Results:

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  • Track formation is dependent on the pressure difference between the manus (hand) and pes (foot), influenced by weight distribution and foot size.
  • Specific substrate shear strengths can lead to the formation of manus-only or pes-only trackways.

Conclusions:

  • The study predicts that different sauropod taxa may produce distinct manus- or pes-only trackways based on their foot morphology and mass distribution.
  • The occurrence of manus- or pes-only trackways could correlate geographically and temporally with the presence of specific dinosaur body fossils.