BATCH 2
Generalization of CR to all vertebrates</W>relevance of CR to the protobird
To see whether CR behavior is the universal the limb-based locomotory mechanism for vertebrates it is necessary to examine locomotion across every all vertebrate taxa. Such a survey shows that this counterrotation is
fundamental to all limb action and locomotion not only for birds but for
all vertebrates. Therefore, it is logically inferrable that this mechanical behavior was also part of dinosaur locomotion and therefore had direct
relevance to the protobird.
Traditional classification of vertebrate movements vs. the present method
Vertebrate locomotion has been traditionally classified in two ways. One is the gross characterization of movement, namely body and limb positioning and behavior in walking, running, leaping, ricocheting (hopping), climbing, crawling, swimming, digg
ing, etc. The other method is the quantitative and geometrical analysis of the realtoive positioning and the timing of the moments when the various feet touch the ground. Thus, from older works, e.g., Muybridge's, up to current literature diagrams of foot l
andings are arranged and numbered in place and order of contacting the substrate.
We can, however, classify locomotor actions in a different systematic way, according to patterns and variations of humero-femoral
CR. This treatment encompasses all vertebrate locomotory limb activity and groups them according to simple mechanical rotation parameters. Importantly, a
tabulation of modes that cover every form of vertebrate appendicular locomotion can be assumed to include those of dinosaurs since it is unlikely that they would not share the vertebrate CR architecture.
???? "The CR modes described" ??
The primary ancestral device of vertebrate limb locomotion is the rotation of the fins of fish, pivoting against the pectoral and pelvic girdles, and it is represented in terrestrial descendants by the rotations of the shoulder and thigh (but not of
the later evolved middle and distal segments). Femoral and humeral (FH) pivot rotations
remain the primary agents of limb driven locomotion.
The evolutionary importance of humero-femoral articulation
Humero-femoral rotation moves the four limbs in patterns differing in the relative rotational
directions, symmetries and planes of movement
by both the left-right and front-back pairings of appendages, yielding eight permutations of rotational coordination. All possible FH rotations belong in one of eight regular plus three rarely found modes and are tabulated in the
CR Matrix chart, q.v.
The humero-femoral or proximal structures of the limbs are the
most essential agents of appendicluar motion. They connect the limbs through the girdles to the axial body which provides the stablity and movement reference for the limbs. In fish, they are the single source of fin manipulation.
(The comparative anatomist Romer has written: )?? "In the fins of fishes the limb musculature is simple in construction. Two opposed little masses of muscle are usually readiily discernible, running outward from the girdle to t
he base of the fin. A dorsal mujscle mass serves primairly to elveate or extend tthe fin, a ventral muscle mass to depress or addict it. There may be, in addition, small slips developed from either groupd which serve to give rotary or other special fin move
ments." From A. S. Romer, The Verteberate Body, W.B. Saunders, 1970,
In terrestrial animals any action by the middle and distal of the forelimbs or hind limbs parts must be grounded on, or
stabilized by the humerus and the pectoral girdle, or respectrively the femur and the pelvic girdle. Thus FH motion is the most fundamental agents in limb kinematics for reasons in mechanics as well as evolutionary seniority.
The F/H CR modes fit into a two-by-four matrix, the subdivisions of which are distinguished according to
three parameters:
a) parallelism, i. e., parallel or
alternating directions of movement by the right and left limbs, and
b) symmetry, i.e., symmetrical or asymmetrical, or whether the rotations are performed only by the anterior or posterior limbs, and
c) horizontal or vertical, that is, whether the action occurs approximately in the horizontal or vertical plane, or better, in relation to the plane of the thorax.
See figures w and z.
There are also three infrequently found anomalous modes, where parallelism and symmetries are mixed as secondary developments of the universal 2 x 4 matrix.
HERE IS NOW THE MATRIX CHART CR Mode matrix (SymbolChart)
Bird takeoff identified in the CR matrix
According to the CR matrix the FH locomotive appendicular coordinated rotation class represented by the takeoff video sequences observed is the
parallel symmetrical, which includes bipedal or quadrupedal
jump in where paired front and paired hind limbs rotate simultaneously, i.e., in
parallel, but opposing directions, and where both front and hind limbs in action, forming front-back symmetry, in the
vertical plane.
This mode contrasts with the parallel asymmetrical vertical one.
Both kangaroo ricocheting and bird hopping, for example, are right-left
parallel, (where both right and left legs simultaneously move) and front-back
asymmetric, (where legs move, but not the arms) and vertical
(where the limb motion is the vertical plane. A jumping frog represents the horizontal plane variety. Its CR changes symmetry in mid-action, as the initial saltation is mainly leg driven, but in approaching the target the frog rotates
its arms.
Bird flight is parallel and asymmetrical as well, except that here
the forelimbs move, while the legs do not</W>we might say that birds are "ricocheting with their wings against
the air". A walking or running bird employs the alternate
asymmetrical mode, (where only the legs move in alternation), while
walking or running by a primate bipedal
is alternate symmetrical,
(where both arms and legs are in motion).
Caption for fig. z illustrates four modes, contrasting in left vs. right limb parallel/alternate and front vs. back limb symmetrical/asymmetrical coordination.
Evaluation of CR Modes Matrix - (all significant locomotory-based motions covered- I am 99.99% sure. Non-locomotory motions, e.g., scratching, are not included )
3. Relevance</W>did the protoavian share general vertebrate
biological mechanics?
The survey below (on p. 000) will allow us to conclude that all siginificant and relevant types of limb locomotory movements in vertebrates have been covered in the CR matrix, and that we may assume that dinsoaurs, including the protobird were constructed a
long the same physio-mechanical design as extant terrestrial vertebrates and that they were not so specialized as to fall outside this matrix. Thus, whatever protoavian movement the
source of flight may have been, it is included within the matrix, and we only have to select the most likely one.
The survey lists all known living vertebrates according to class and family and when relevant, to species, and designates which CR matrix division their locomotive functions fit into. Every possible motion of a vertebrate can be fitted into
the matrix, and thus, again, the applicaibilty of the CR mehcanics to the protobird is well grounded.
17 CR Survey (CR .sam tables and text) ------
CR survey here
After the Survey: And Video data
A collection of video clips/frames offers typical examples of locomotive behavior across the vertebrate classes, providing illustrations for all (most?) actions listed in the CR survey.
THIS HAS NOW BEEN again WRITTEN UP in July 2007 = Claw-Sol.
The application of CR analysis
Which subdivision of the CR mode matrix can be taken as the possible source of flight?
The question before us is which sufficiently energetic arm or leg action would provide the necessary flight stroke.
Jump</W>the parallel-symmetrical mode
Whereas flight imposes a parallel asymmetrical, strictly forelimb action,
liftoff, as evident in the eagles takeoff video clips,
is a parallel symmetrical one in the CR mode classification, with both forelimbs and hind limbs active, precisely as in saltation. This fact limits our choice to actions fitting into the mode which includes
jumping, namely the parallel symmetrical mode, as the source of liftoff.
Introduction to theories built on jumping
Even though jumping is not the correct answer, reviewing the theories based in saltation, as well as other propsed actions is essential in leading us to a solution.
Several theories, briefly described below, have outlined actions involving saltation as the original source of flight, where movements of the arms, as kinematic stabilizers and controllers, serve to improve the control and efficacy of the jump. Thes
e authors have all noted the association between leg and arm movements in leaping, but they have not recognized the built-in automatism and mechanical nature of the function. This severely limited the choices available in finding convincing selective behavi
18a HERE INSERT CLAW-SOL MacroPart under the
end of Batch-2