Category Archives: Biomechanics

Pterosaur, Inter-Modulated

Posted on March 24, 2014 by

When Helmut Tischlinger and Eberhard “Dino” Frey team up for a paper, you know it’s gonna be good. Almost certainly, there will be UV involved. The pterosaur fossils of the Solnhofen are especially UV reflective, which brings out obscure or … Continue reading →

Posted in Paleontology, Biomechanics, Biology | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

The “Toroceratops” Debate is Entering a New Round!

Posted on November 27, 2013 by

Posted in Biomechanics, Morphometrics, Paleontology, Science Reporting | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Wrench in the Works of Head Attitude

Posted on August 8, 2013 by

The orientation of the head for standardized anatomical comparison is important for biological and paleontological analysis. It influences anatomical direction, description, the relationship of soft-tissue, study of behaviors such as feeding by the orientation of muscles versus gravity, and so … Continue reading →

Posted in Biological Comparison, Biology, Biomechanics, Morphometrics, Paleobiology, Science Reporting | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Skimmer, Exploded

Posted on July 1, 2013 by

Rhynchops niger is a fun animal. Not only does it have this wonderfully huge lower bill, there’s lots of fun little structures of the jaw that interact in ways one doesn’t really expect in birds.(The gap in the upper and … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biology, Biomechanics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Are Scansoriopterygids Oviraptorosaurs?

Posted on March 4, 2013 by

Scansoriopterygidae represent one of those bizarre groups of animals that seem to defy simplistic evaluation; there’s always something about them that says “You should compare with that that other group” whenever you look at a part. It doesn’t help that … Continue reading →

Posted in Morphometrics, Paleontology | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Oviraptorid Jaw Muscles Described, Part 4

Posted on February 22, 2013 by

Wait, you thought we were done? This is a short post, following parts one, two and three. The above image attempts to describe lines of action for major jaw muscles and directions of force (arrows). Jaw protraction and retraction does … Continue reading →

Posted in Biomechanics, Morphometrics, Paleontology, Reconstruction | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Oviraptorid Jaw Muscles Described, Part 3

Posted on February 4, 2013 by

In the previous two posts (part 1 here, part 2 here), I discussed the shapes and sizes of the muscles and their origins and insertions of the oviraptorid skull. I deigned to provide the basis of the muscles mapped to … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Biomechanics, Paleobiology, Paleontology | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Oviraptorid Jaw Muscles Described, Part 2

Posted on January 28, 2013 by

In the last post, I discussed the one jaw to cranium muscle that isn’t a depressor that bears on its mechanics (m. depressor mandibular, or mDM) and the palatal and psuedotemporal groups of muscles (m. pterygoideus and m. psuedotemporalis, respectively). … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Biomechanics, Paleontology | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Oviraptorid Jaw Muscles Described, Part 1

Posted on January 15, 2013 by

Here follows a small, basic and minor depiction of the jaw muscles of an oviraptorid, largely specifically based on landmarks provided by the extant phylogenetic bracket (EPB) but also informed by examining for cranial landmarks in which these muscles typically … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biological Comparison, Biology, Biomechanics, Paleontology, Reconstruction | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Cheeky Commentary on Ornithischians

Posted on September 10, 2012 by

In my last post on the issue of recovering the probable structure of extra-oral tissues in dinosaurs, bracketed as they are between crocs and birds, but with lacertilians and other reptiles outside of that grouping, I suggested that one important … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Biomechanics, Paleobiology, Paleontology, Reconstruction | Tagged , , | 9 Comments