School of Engineering, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales,
PLoS One. 2013 Jul 24;8(7):e68649. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068649. Print 2013.
We report new skeletal elements pertaining to the same individual which represents the holotype of Australovenator wintonensis, from the 'Matilda Site' in the Winton Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of western Queensland. The discovery of these new elements means that the hind limb of Australovenator is now the most completely understood hind limb among Neovenatoridae. The new hind limb elements include: the left fibula; left metatarsal IV; left pedal phalanges I-2, II-1, III-4, IV-2, IV-3; and right pedal phalanges, II-2 and III-1. The detailed descriptions are supported with three dimensional figures. These coupled with the completeness of the hind limb will increase the utility of Australovenator in comparisons with less complete neovenatorid genera. These specimens and the previously described hind limb elements of Australovenator are compared with other theropods classified as neovenatorids (including Neovenator, Chilantaisaurus, Fukuiraptor, Orkoraptor and Megaraptor). Hind limb length proportion comparisons indicate that the smaller neovenatorids Australovenator and Fukuiraptor possess more elongate and gracile hind limb elements than the larger Neovenator and Chilantaisaurus. Greater stride lengths to body size exist in both Fukuiraptor and Australovenator with the femur discovered to be proportionally shorter the rest of the hind limb length. Additionally Australovenator is identified as possessing the most elongate metatarsus. The metatarsus morphology varies with body size. The larger neoventorids possess a metatarsus with greater width but shorter length compared to smaller forms.
我们报告了新的骨骼元素,这些元素与代表Australovenator wintonensis 模式种的个体有关,来自昆士兰州西部 Winton 组(上白垩统)的“Matilda 遗址”。这些新元素的发现意味着 Australovenator 的后肢现在是 Neovenatoridae 中理解得最完整的后肢。新的后肢元素包括:左腓骨;左第四跖骨;左跖骨 I-2、II-1、III-4、IV-2、IV-3;和右跖骨,II-2 和 III-1。详细描述附有三维图。这些元素与完整的后肢相结合,将增加 Australovenator 在与其他不完整的新兽脚类属进行比较时的实用性。这些标本和之前描述的 Australovenator 后肢元素与其他被归类为新兽脚类的兽脚类(包括 Neovenator、Chilantaisaurus、Fukuiraptor、Orkoraptor 和 Megaraptor)进行了比较。后肢长度比例比较表明,较小的新兽脚类 Australovenator 和 Fukuiraptor 拥有比较大的 Neovenator 和 Chilantaisaurus 更长、更纤细的后肢元素。Fukuiraptor 和 Australovenator 的步幅与体型相比更大,发现股骨相对于后肢其余部分比例较短。此外,Australovenator 被确定为具有最长的跖骨。跖骨形态随体型而变化。较大的新兽脚类具有更大宽度但较短长度的跖骨,与较小的形式相比。