What anatomical proportion in Xiaotingia hinted at musculature necessary for flapping locomotion?
Answer
A femur that was longer than its humerus
The morphology of the limb bones in Xiaotingia zhengi presented characteristics suggestive of avian capabilities. Specifically, the creature possessed a femur that was longer than its humerus. In the context of evolutionary anatomy related to flight, this bone proportion is often interpreted as providing the necessary leverage and anchoring points for the powerful musculature required to execute flapping locomotion, similar to what is observed in primitive birds. This feature conflicted with some purely predatory dinosaurian models, adding weight to the view that Xiaotingia was exploring flight-related capabilities.
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