Minimus Tempus

Arid zoned habitats provide challenging conditions for small marsupials. Some marsupials live underground to provide protection from predators and exposure to heat and also assist with water balance and energy expenditure as discussed by Warnecke (2010)

The left metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal (great and lesser toes) joints are held at slight flexion pressed against the ground by a concentric contraction of the flexor halluces longus, flexor digitorum longus, flexor digitorum longus. The left talocrural (ankle) is plantar flexed using a concentric contraction of the gastrocnemius and the soleus. The right talocrural (ankle) is plantar flexed by a concentric contraction of the tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, peroneus tertius. The left tibiofermoral (knee) joints are being extended by a concentric contraction of the quadriceps muscles (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius). The right metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal (great and lesser toes) are being held plantar flexed due to an isometric contraction of the flexor halluces longus, flexor digtorum longus. The right tibiofermoral (knee) joints are flexed at a 90-degree angle by a concentric contraction of the biceps femoris, semitendinous, semimembranosus. During this phase the left acetabular fermoral (hip) joint is flexed due to an eccentric contraction of the rectus femoris, pectineus, iliacus, and psoas. The right acetabular fermoral (hip) joint is at slight extension due to a concentric contraction of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and the gluteus

The Mep-Moopans species mainly live in burrows, due to there only being 2 hours darkness they adapted Their burrow usually contain four main chambers and a bathroom. These creatures care very advanced, creating bedrooms and bathrooms in their burrows.

In Tasmania this species is fully protected and the population has been increasing slowly. However, the populations on mainland Australia are so fragmented and small that they may be too small to survive. This species’ recovery in Australia depends on a nationally coordinated approach, with habitat loss, predator control and captive breeding projects all needing to be

We explored the role of demography, seasonal, environmental and anthropogenic drivers on the structure of burrow-use based contact network of desert tortoises. Desert tortoise spend majority of time in burrows, and simultaneous or asynchronous use of common burrows might play a role in the spread URTD from infected to susceptible individuals. We find that seasonal variation has a strong impact on tortoise burrow use behavior. Our results also show that older burrows and burrows located in higher topographical positions tend to be visited by more tortoises and, therefore, have the potential of serving as hot-spots of URTD spread in desert tortoise populations. In addition, we investigated the effect of three major population stressors affecting this species (translocation, drought, disease), and find that translocation alters tortoise burrow use behavior, with translocated animals visiting fewer burrows than

Smith et al. 1997). They breed only once per year, and after parturition both the mother and father provide parental care. Most live in family colonies that house the most recent litter in addition to the previous year’s litter, the latter acting as non-breeding helpers. (Vesa Ruusila et al. 2000) Peak mortality of young, or kits, occurs between August of their birth year and March of the following year (Craig K. Bloomquist et al. 2010). Researchers from Eastern Illinois University tracked seventeen dens used by twelve different colonies using direct observations of the dens and infrared headlamps, and determined logjams were extremely useful tools that are used near many dens. They provide escape cover from predators, and slowed the current near the den making it easier for the kits to access. (Randall P. Havens et al. 2013).

Many changes have occured in bipedal hominins bone structure in relation to the skeletal muscle. The sagital cres which attatches to the Jaw muscle is decreased. The brow ride which make the skull stronger is also decreased. The zygomatic arches which the jaw muscles pass through are more thicker and dense in the hominin species. Bipedalism means to walk on 2 legs and quadrupedalism to walk with 4 limbs. The Valgus angle is decreased in the homin. In order to support the upright walking the formen Magnum which attatches to the neck muscle is more central. Finnaly the spine is curved in the human distributing the weight. Also the quadraped has a decreased thigh bone ratio. The importance of bipedalism in the evolution of humans may be

The emergence of bipedalism modified the skeletal features of modern man [1]. As a consequence, the humerus tends to be shorter, lighter and straighter by losing its role of bearing bone [2]. It can be loaded in tension as in compression depending on the function of the upper extremity (uplift loads or distal support). At the opposite and from an evolutionary perspective in the human primate, femur evolved morphological and mechanical in order to bear different postures (standing, walking, running) [3,4].

This is different from Rhesus Macaques, who have bowed tibia, fibula, ladius and ulna. They have enlarged bone structures and have trouble moving (Wolfensohn, 2003). This

IRREGULAR BONES are adapted to fulfil various functions. The vertebrae are examples of irregular bones with each section of the vertebra column adapted to fulfil the function for which they were designed. The first cervical vertebra is known as the atlas because it articulates (moves) with the skull. This vertebra has no body but instead has a large flat surface that articulates with the skull and provides a good base of support as well as allowing the skull to rotate freely. The second cervical vertebra is the axis which has a special process (sticky out bit) that passes up into the atlas allowing the head to pivot or rotate. The twelve thoracic vertebrae have a long spinous process which lock together to prevent excessive rotation and to

The foramen magnum needed to change for bipedalism, the skull needed to stay upright while walking bipedally in humans and the gorilla is quadrupedal and needed their skull to face upright while walking on all fours. The sagittal crest was needed for gorillas in order to chew the foods of their diets. The human diet was changing and did not need to be able to chew through roots and other food sources. The nucheal crest was needed to attach muscles necessary for keeping the head upright while walking quadripedally.

The Synapsid clade (classification construct), are known as the second lineage of terrestrial vertebrates (amniote tetrapods), that originated at the end of the Paleozoic era (Pough, Janis, and Heiser 448). According to Pough, Janis, and Heiser, “Synapsids include mammals and their extinct pre-decessors, commonly called “mammal-like reptiles”, (can also be referred to as “non-mammalian”)”. The key distinction in distinguishing synapsids from other amniotes is their synapsid skull; the synapsid skull is a skull with the presence of a lower temporal (synapsid) fenestra, plus a few other skull features (Fig. 1) (Pough, Janis, and Heiser 448).

The overgrazing and habitat competition from the invaded rabbits have directly and indirectly caused the endangerment or extinction of native Australian wildlife. For example, A. C. Lees and Diana J. Bell (2008) speculate that, “competition for burrows with rabbits” was likely a “decisive factor in the extinction of the Macrotis lagotis gradis and the Leporillus apicalis (p. 310). In fact, many of Australia’s marsupials are being threatened due to the lifestyle of European rabbits (Lees & Bell, 2008).

In primates, Cebidae [xyz-xyz] and Atelidae [xyz-xyz] show prehensility. As opposed to closely related Atelidae that have a relatively longer prehensile tail that is richly innervated with dermatoglyphs and Meissner’s corpuscles, Cebidae have a semi-prehensile tail that is short and fully haired with no dermatoglyphs or Meissner’s corpuscles [xyz]. Prehensility is associated with an interesting motor coordination and control problem: an individual has to coordinate and control its semi-/prehensile tail with respect to its four limbs that the tail may completely or only partially substitute. For example, when using its tail a capuchin monkey assumes postures including: (a) tail-hanging (body hanging on the tail) (Figure 1A), (b) tail-anchored

The talus is a trapezoidal shaped bone with its anterior aspect of the superior trochlear surface 3-4 mm wider than the posterior portion. The distal tibiofibular joint acts as a spring to spread the mortise to accommodate the wider portion of the talus with dorsiflexion and recoils when the joint returns to a planter flexed position. (11)