Multibody analysis and soft tissue strength refute supersonic dinosaur tail.

Area of Science:

• Paleontology
• Biomechanics
• Dinosauria

Background:

• Sauropod dinosaurs are recognized for their immense size, long necks, and tails.
• Flagellicaudatan sauropods possess exceptionally elongated tails, prompting hypotheses about their function, often likened to a whip.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the motion dynamics of a 3D apatosaurine flagellicaudatan tail model.
• To quantify the stress-bearing capacity of the soft tissues within these elongated tails.

Main Methods:

• Multibody simulation of a 3D apatosaurine flagellicaudatan tail model.
• Analysis of the material properties of associated soft tissues (skin, tendons, ligaments).

Main Results:

• The elongated tail structure can achieve tip velocities of approximately 30 m/s (100 km/h).
• These speeds are significantly below the speed of sound, constrained by musculature friction, joint articulation, and aerodynamic drag.
• The material properties of the tail's soft tissues indicate they could not withstand the stresses associated with supersonic speeds.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates that flagellicaudatan tails were capable of rapid movement, functioning effectively within biological limits.
• The physical constraints of the tail's structure and soft tissues preclude supersonic speeds, challenging the 'bullwhip' hypothesis.
• The findings provide biomechanical insights into the functional morphology of sauropod tails in dinosaurs.