View in EDS

Drivers and mechanisms of convergent forelimb reduction in non-avian theropod dinosaurs.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Drivers and mechanisms of convergent forelimb reduction in non-avian theropod dinosaurs.
Authors: Scherer, Charlie Roger1 (AUTHOR) cscherer2002@gmail.com, Steell, Elizabeth2,3 (AUTHOR) ems207@cam.ac.uk, Upchurch, Paul1 (AUTHOR) p.upchurch@ucl.ac.uk
Source: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 5/20/2026, Vol. 293 Issue 2071, p1-12. 12p.
Subjects: Forelimb, Convergent evolution, Predation, Saurischia
Abstract: Forelimb reduction has been observed in numerous and disparate non-avian theropod dinosaurs, resulting in the hypothesis that reduced forelimbs evolved convergently. Clades with reduced forelimbs also possess high degrees of cranial robusticity and gigantic body sizes. Here, we provide a novel quantification of forelimb reduction across Theropoda, and create and implement a cranial robusticity scoring system, and analyse this dataset using bivariate and comparative phylogenetic analyses. Results indicate that forelimb reduction is strongly correlated with cranial robusticity and gigantism. Reduced/vestigial forelimbs evolved in at least five theropod lineages in concert with increased cranial robusticity and gigantism. Abelisaurids, carcharodontosaurids and tyrannosaurids show the greatest forelimb reduction relative to the skull. Repeated forelimb reduction across theropods was facilitated by increased cranial robusticity and greater body size that was potentially influenced by an upward trend in prey body size. These events resulted in a shift from subduing prey using grasping forelimbs to using powerful bites and robust skulls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences is the property of Royal Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 193859760
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Drivers and mechanisms of convergent forelimb reduction in non-avian theropod dinosaurs.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Scherer%2C+Charlie+Roger%22">Scherer, Charlie Roger</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> cscherer2002@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Steell%2C+Elizabeth%22">Steell, Elizabeth</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> ems207@cam.ac.uk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Upchurch%2C+Paul%22">Upchurch, Paul</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> p.upchurch@ucl.ac.uk</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Proceedings+of+the+Royal+Society+B%3A+Biological+Sciences%22">Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences</searchLink>. 5/20/2026, Vol. 293 Issue 2071, p1-12. 12p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Forelimb%22">Forelimb</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Convergent+evolution%22">Convergent evolution</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predation%22">Predation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Saurischia%22">Saurischia</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Forelimb reduction has been observed in numerous and disparate non-avian theropod dinosaurs, resulting in the hypothesis that reduced forelimbs evolved convergently. Clades with reduced forelimbs also possess high degrees of cranial robusticity and gigantic body sizes. Here, we provide a novel quantification of forelimb reduction across Theropoda, and create and implement a cranial robusticity scoring system, and analyse this dataset using bivariate and comparative phylogenetic analyses. Results indicate that forelimb reduction is strongly correlated with cranial robusticity and gigantism. Reduced/vestigial forelimbs evolved in at least five theropod lineages in concert with increased cranial robusticity and gigantism. Abelisaurids, carcharodontosaurids and tyrannosaurids show the greatest forelimb reduction relative to the skull. Repeated forelimb reduction across theropods was facilitated by increased cranial robusticity and greater body size that was potentially influenced by an upward trend in prey body size. These events resulted in a shift from subduing prey using grasping forelimbs to using powerful bites and robust skulls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences is the property of Royal Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=193859760
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1098/rspb.2026.0528
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Forelimb
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Convergent evolution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Predation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Saurischia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Drivers and mechanisms of convergent forelimb reduction in non-avian theropod dinosaurs.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Scherer, Charlie Roger
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Steell, Elizabeth
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Upchurch, Paul
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 20
              M: 05
              Text: 5/20/2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 09628452
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 293
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2071
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
              Type: main
ResultId 1