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Plesiosaurs, extinct marine reptiles, primarily used their forelimbs for swimming via underwater flight, similar to turtles. Their hind limbs mainly aided maneuverability and stability.

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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Marine Biology
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Plesiosaurians were highly derived marine reptiles inhabiting Earth for 135 million years.
  • Their unique body plan featured two pairs of large, wing-like flippers, but their locomotion remains debated.
  • Controversies include the limb stroke mechanism (rowing vs. underwater flight) and limb coordination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate plesiosaur locomotion using a novel simulation approach.
  • To determine the most efficient limb stroke and coordination for plesiosaur swimming.
  • To explore how locomotory repertoire changes under different parameters.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a digital, three-dimensional, articulated, free-swimming plesiosaur model.
  • Conducted numerous simulations in a simulated fluid environment.
  • Varied joint degrees of freedom to analyze locomotory changes.

Main Results:

  • Simulated plesiosaurs primarily used forelimbs for propulsion via an unmodified underwater flight stroke.
  • Hind limbs generated relatively weak thrust across all simulated conditions.
  • Forelimb-dominated swimming was most efficient within biologically plausible ranges.

Conclusions:

  • Plesiosaurs were predominantly forelimb-dominated swimmers.
  • The hind limbs likely served secondary roles in maneuverability and stability.
  • This study clarifies a long-standing debate on plesiosaur locomotion.