| We present the reconstruction of the hindlimb musculature of the titanosaur sauropod Neuquensaurus australis (Lydekker), integrating data from crocodilians and birds as a phylogenetic bracket. First, we evaluate sites of origin and insertions in N. australis by comparison with extant archosaurs as well as with previous works on dinosaur soft anatomy, and reconstruct principal muscles of the leg, such as Triceps femoris group, M. iliofibularis, Mm. adductores femores, Mm. gastrocnemii, M. ischiotrochantericus and Mm. caudofemorales. Second, we infer the probable function of each muscle comparing with our bracket taxa and with living analogs, principally mammals, because they are thought to be the best model to understand non-avian dinosaur locomotion. This... |
