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THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Eric Snively A ... - Ohio University

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The arctometatarsus as an example of ligament-bone integration<br />

During the Cretaceous, an unusual morphology of the metatarsus evolved in<br />

several taxa of the Theropoda, a predominateiy camivorous clade of bipedal<br />

dinosaurs. Termed the arctometatanus (Holtz 1994a), this structure displays a<br />

striking third metatarsal that is wmparatively gracile towards the ankle and<br />

robust towards the toes. Figure 1.1 shows an example. The word<br />

"arctometatarsus" refers to the entire pedal metapodium of these theropods;<br />

arctometatarsalian describes the structure, or designates a taxon whose<br />

members possess an ardometatarsus.<br />

There are four elements to the osteological definition of the arctometatarsus<br />

(Holtz 1994a). The third (central) metatarsal (designated herein as MT III) is<br />

constricted proximally relative to the condition in other theropods. MT III is also<br />

triangular in distal cross section, and thus constricted towards the plantar surface<br />

(flat of the foot). The outer weight bearing metatarsals, the second and fourth<br />

(MT II and MT IV), encroach towards the midsagittal plane of MT III where it<br />

wnstricts, and maintain contact with MT III distally and proximally. All three<br />

metatarsals therefore forrn a wedge-and-buttress morphology, in which<br />

buttressing surfaces of the outer metatarsals overhang and contact surfaces of<br />

the wedgelike third metatarsal (Holtz 1994a).<br />

In addition to these osteological characteristics, severai authors have<br />

commented on the likely presence of ligaments that bound the arctometatarsus<br />

together. <strong>Snively</strong> (1 994) reported extensive rugosities on the metatarsal articular

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