title: The pes of Australovenator wintonensis (Theropoda: Megaraptoridae): analysis of the pedal range of motion and biological restoration.
abstract: The pedal range of motion in Australovenator wintonensis is investigated to determine what influence soft tissue had on range of motion in the foot. Fortunately, the theropod pes shares a close morphology with extant large cursorial birds. Therefore, to better understand the pedal range of motion of Australovenator, the pedal range of motion of Dromaius novaehollandiae (commonly known as the emu) was analysed with and without soft tissue. We used a variety of innovative digital techniques to analyse the range of motion and biologically restore the Australovenator pes. Computed tomography scans of Dromaius pes in fully flexed and fully extended positions provided the soft tissue range of motion limits. The bone on bone range of motion of the same specimen was replicated following the removal of soft tissue. It was identified that there was an increase in range of motion potential with the removal of soft tissue. This variation provided a guide to develop the potential range of motion of a fully fleshed Australovenator pes. Additionally, the dissection of the Dromaius pes provided a guide enabling the replication of the corresponding soft tissue and keratin sheaths of the Australovenator pes.
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia; Palaeontology, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Matt A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Palaeontology, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland, Australia; School of Earth Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Alex G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Palaeontology, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland, Australia; School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Ada J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Klinkhamer
authors.affiliation: Palaeontology, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History , Winton , Queensland , Australia.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Elliott
keywords: Australovenator; Dinosaurs; Foot print; Pes; Range of motion; Reconstruction; Theropod