Structure,Orientation and Finite Element Analysis of the Tail Club of Mamenchisaurus hochuanensis

作     者：XING Lida YE Yong SHU Chunkang PENG Guangzhao YOU Hailu 

作者机构：Institute of Geology Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences Beijing 100037 P. R. China Zigong Dinosaur Museum Zigong Sichuan Province 643013 P. R. China 

出 版 物：《Acta Geologica Sinica(English Edition)》 (地质学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2009年第83卷第6期

页      面：1031-1040页

核心收录：

学科分类：070903[理学-古生物学与地层学(含：古人类学)] 0709[理学-地质学] 07[理学] 08[工学] 0805[工学-材料科学与工程（可授工学、理学学位）] 080502[工学-材料学] 

基　　金：supported by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (973 Project,2006CB701405) China Geological Survey National Natural Science Foundation of China Accurate Reconstruction of Dinosaurs (Zigong Dinosaur Museum Project,20071201) the Palaeobiology Program of Chinese National Geography International (CNGi) 

主　　题：Mamenchisaurus tail club Finite Element Analysis Shangshaximiao Formation Jurassic 

摘      要：The structure and orientation of the posterior extremity （tail club） of the caudal vertebrae of Mamenchisaurus hochuanensis Young and Chao, 1972 from the Upper Jurassic Shangshaximiao Formation has been analyzed to determine the tail club function using Finite Element Analysis. Of the four caudal vertebrae composing the tail club, the second largest （C＂1＂） was probably the most proximal, and is fixed with the preceding sequence of the caudal vertebrae, whereas the smallest （C＂4＂） is free and forms the termination of the tail club. Our analysis also suggests that the tail club is more efficient in lateral swinging rather than up-and-down motion, and that the best region for the tail club to impact is at the spine of the largest of the four caudals （C＂2＂）, with a maximum load for impact at about 450 N. The tail club of Mamenchisaurus hochuanensis probably also had limitations as a defense weapon and was more possibly a sensory organ to improve nerve conduction velocity to enhance the capacity for sensory perception of its surroundings.