What was the primary engineering purpose of the sturdy legs of Arsinoitherium?
Answer
Carrying great weight
The musculoskeletal system of Arsinoitherium was clearly optimized for supporting extreme mass rather than achieving speed or agility. The evidence points to legs that functioned essentially as sturdy, load-bearing columns. Their robust structure and relatively short stature were perfectly engineered to handle the estimated weight, which could exceed 2,600 kilograms. This contrasts sharply with the long, slender limbs found in cursorial (running) animals. The emphasis on sturdy support reflects the creature's lifestyle as a dense browser requiring strong foundations to manage its immense bulk and the considerable leverage exerted by its heavy skull and horns.
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