Science. 1983 May 13;220(4598):712-5. doi: 10.1126/science.220.4598.712.
A recently discovered skeleton of Ptilodus exhibits several specializations for climbing. A survey of postcranial bones of Cretaceous and early Cenozoic multituberculates from North America reveals similar locomotor specializations. Multituberculates possessed distinctive tarsal adaptations for a range of pedal mobility characteristic of arboreal mammals that descend trees headfirst. The divergent hallux could move independently of the other digits. The long robust tail of Ptilodus possessed musculoskeletal features that, among living mammals, are associated with prehensility.
最近发现的雕齿兽骨骼表现出了几种攀爬的特化特征。对北美白垩纪和新生代早期多瘤齿兽的后肢骨骼的研究揭示了类似的运动特化特征。多瘤齿兽的跗骨具有独特的适应性，可实现一系列与树栖哺乳动物有关的足的活动性，这些哺乳动物可以头朝下从树上下来。分歧的大脚趾可以与其他脚趾独立运动。雕齿兽的长而结实的尾巴具有骨骼肌肉特征，在现存的哺乳动物中，与抓握能力有关。
