RE: Postosuchus stance

[Michael Erickson <tehdinomahn@live.com>]

Regardless of whether _Postosuchus_ was bipedal or quadrupedal, the feet must 
have been plantigrade. Although A. Walker and Chatterjee have suggested that 
ornithisuchids and poposaurids were digitigrade, the crurotarsan ankle and 
generally crocodilian-like nature of the pes supports plantigrady. The 
Chirotherium tracks also support this.
 
Oh, and just for the record, the osteological evidence strongly suggests that 
rauisuchians had squamate-like "lip" tissue, as in theropods, and unlike the 
naked teeth of crocodilians. (I mention this merely because I have scarcely 
seen any artwork showing them this way.)
 
~ Michael
 

> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 12:24:58 -0800
> From: ddkrentz@charter.net
> To: dinosaur@usc.edu
> Subject: Postosuchus stance
> 
> What trackways have been attributed to Postosuchus? Do they show 
> full plantigrade feet, ( is a crurotarstian considered 
> plantigrade) ? Do they show a wide stance with in the front arms or 
> are they more indicative of a more erect posture?
> Does the manus rotate outwards?
> 
> This is truly a really cool creature!
> 
> D
> 
>                                         
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