Fig 1.
A reconstruction of Australovenator wintonensis grasping a small theropod with its arms in a flexed posture.
Fig 2.
Determining range of motion from three dimensional meshes.
(A) An example of determining the ROM of manual phalanx I-1 around metacarpal I in extended and flexed positions. The guide meshes are visible projecting from the specimen meshes. (B) The specimen meshes removed leaving the created guides used for determining the range of motion. A line of neutral articulation was created along a horizontal plain which is used as the basal limit for extension and flexion measurements. Abbreviations: ex extension angle; fl flexion angle; h hinge joint; nal neutral articulation line.
Fig 3.
Articulated right humerus and antebrachium.
(A) Right humerus and antebrachium flexed in medial view. (B) Right humerus and antebrachium flexed in lateral view. (C) Cranial view of radius and ulna in flexion displaying the distal movement of the radius indicated by the black arrow. (D) Distal articulation of the ulna and radius during flexion. (E) Right humerus and antebrachium extended in medial view. (F) Right humerus and antebrachium extended in lateral view. (G) Cranial view of radius and ulna in extended position with no distal displacement of the radius. (H) Distal articulation of the ulna and radius during extension. (I) Distal view of the humerus displaying the radial and ulna condyles. (J) Cranial view of the right humerus and antebrachium in extension displaying the position of the radial condyle which forces the distal displacement during flexion. Abbreviations: radial condyle (rc), ulna condyle (uc).
Fig 4.
Right forearm and manus of Australovenator and Gallus forearm.
Right forearm in extended lateral view; (A) Gallus. (B) Australovenator. Right forearm extended in lateral view; (C) Gallus. (D) Australovenator. Right forearm flexed in lateral view; (E) Gallus. (F) Australovenator. Right forearm flexed in medial view; (G) Gallus. (H) Australovenator. Australovenator manus; (I) extended cranial view; (J) extended ventral view; (K) flexed cranial view; (L) flexed ventral view.
Fig 5.
Articulated radius and radiale.
Radius and radiale in: (A) cranial view; (B) caudal view; (C) lateral view; (D) medial view; (E) radiale in distal view; (F) radiale in proximal view.
Fig 6.
Distal carpal 1, metacarpal I and metacarpal II.
(A) Distal carpal 1 in ventral view displaying the ventral articular facet that buttresses metacarpal I. (B) The proximal articular facet of metacarpal I where distal carpal I articulates. (C) The lateral face of metacarpal I displaying the articulating morphology with metacarpal II. (D) The medial face of metacarpal II displaying the articulating morphology of metacarpal. Articulated distal carpal I, metacarpal I and metacarpal II in: (E) Cranial view; (F) Ventral view; (G) proximal view; (H) proximal outline. Abbreviations: afr articular facet ridge; dc1 distal carpal 1, McI metacarpal I, McII metacarpal II, McIaf metacarpal I articular facet, McIIaf metacarpal II articular facet.
Fig 7.
(A) Cranial view of metacarpal I and manual phalanx I-1 displaying medial and lateral rotation. Extension and flexion in medial view of: (B) Metacarpal I and manual phalanx I-1; (C) Metacarpal II and McII-1; (D) Manual phalanx II-1 and II-2.
Fig 8.
(A) Manual phalanx I-2 extended and flexed. (B) Manual phalanx II-3 extend and flexed. (C) Manual phalanx III-4 extended and flexed.
Table 1.
Range of motion (ROM) values of various theropods in comparison with Australovenator.
Fig 9.
Phylogeny of theropods mentioned in the text.
Various forearm range of motion evolutionary trends are identified. The phylogeny was created with reference to other range of motion analysis and more recent phylogenetic analysis [6, 13, 15, 20, 49].