Flexibility along the neck of the Neogene terror bird <i>Andalgalornis steulleti</i> (Aves, Phorusrhacidae)

Background: Andalgalornis steulleti from the upper Miocene-lower Pliocene (≈6 million years ago) of Argentina is a medium-sized patagornithine phorusrhacid. It was a member of the predominantly South American radiation of 'terror birds' (Phorusrhacidae) that were apex predators throughout...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Tambussi, Claudia Patricia, De Mendoza, Ricardo Santiago, Degrange, Federico Javier, Picasso, Mariana Beatriz Julieta
Formato: Articulo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2012
Materias:
Ciencias Naturales
Andalgalornis
Aves
Anatomía
ave del terror
Cuello
Especies en Extinción
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/29545
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0037701
Aporte de:
SEDICI (UNLP) de Universidad Nacional de La Plata
id I19-R120-10915-29545
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Ciencias Naturales
Andalgalornis
Aves
Anatomía
ave del terror
Cuello
Especies en Extinción
spellingShingle Ciencias Naturales
Andalgalornis
Aves
Anatomía
ave del terror
Cuello
Especies en Extinción
Tambussi, Claudia Patricia
De Mendoza, Ricardo Santiago
Degrange, Federico Javier
Picasso, Mariana Beatriz Julieta
Flexibility along the neck of the Neogene terror bird <i>Andalgalornis steulleti</i> (Aves, Phorusrhacidae)
topic_facet Ciencias Naturales
Andalgalornis
Aves
Anatomía
ave del terror
Cuello
Especies en Extinción
description Background: Andalgalornis steulleti from the upper Miocene-lower Pliocene (≈6 million years ago) of Argentina is a medium-sized patagornithine phorusrhacid. It was a member of the predominantly South American radiation of 'terror birds' (Phorusrhacidae) that were apex predators throughout much of the Cenozoic. A previous biomechanical study suggests that the skull would be prepared to make sudden movements in the sagittal plane to subdue prey. Methodology/Principal Findings: We analyze the flexion patterns of the neck of Andalgalornis based on the neck vertebrae morphology and biometrics. The transitional cervical vertebrae 5th and 9th clearly separate regions 1-2 and 2-3 respectively. Bifurcate neural spines are developed in the cervical vertebrae 7th to 12th suggesting the presence of a very intricate ligamentary system and of a very well developed epaxial musculature. The presence of the lig. elasticum interespinale is inferred. High neural spines of R3 suggest that this region concentrates the major stresses during downstrokes. Conclusions/Significance: The musculoskeletal system of Andalgalornis seems to be prepared (1) to support a particularly big head during normal stance, and (2) to help the neck (and the head) rising after the maximum ventroflexion during a strike. The study herein is the first interpretation of the potential performance of the neck of Andalgalornis in its entirety and we considered this an important starting point to understand and reconstruct the flexion pattern of other phorusrhacids from which the neck is unknown.
format Articulo
Articulo
author Tambussi, Claudia Patricia
De Mendoza, Ricardo Santiago
Degrange, Federico Javier
Picasso, Mariana Beatriz Julieta
author_facet Tambussi, Claudia Patricia
De Mendoza, Ricardo Santiago
Degrange, Federico Javier
Picasso, Mariana Beatriz Julieta
author_sort Tambussi, Claudia Patricia
title Flexibility along the neck of the Neogene terror bird <i>Andalgalornis steulleti</i> (Aves, Phorusrhacidae)
title_short Flexibility along the neck of the Neogene terror bird <i>Andalgalornis steulleti</i> (Aves, Phorusrhacidae)
title_full Flexibility along the neck of the Neogene terror bird <i>Andalgalornis steulleti</i> (Aves, Phorusrhacidae)
title_fullStr Flexibility along the neck of the Neogene terror bird <i>Andalgalornis steulleti</i> (Aves, Phorusrhacidae)
title_full_unstemmed Flexibility along the neck of the Neogene terror bird <i>Andalgalornis steulleti</i> (Aves, Phorusrhacidae)
title_sort flexibility along the neck of the neogene terror bird <i>andalgalornis steulleti</i> (aves, phorusrhacidae)
publishDate 2012
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/29545
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0037701
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