Ort the hypothesis that its ecomorphology was equivalent to that of dromaeosaurids. When there exists evidence that dromaeosaurids employed both their hands and feet in predation (see Carpenter, 1998), the reduction in length and functionality of the third manual digit plus the poor development or absence from the pedal characters linked with predatory behaviour in deinonychosaurs (i.e., ginglymoid distal finish of metatarsal II allowing substantial hyperextension, falciform second ungual with prominent flexor tubercle; Ostrom, 1969; Fowler et al., 2011), challenge the notion of a specialised, dromaeosaurid-like predatory ecology for Balaur. Brusatte et al. (2013) interpreted these uncommon traits of Balaur because the outcome of insularism, while they acknowledged that comparable morphological changes in insular taxa have so far not been reported in predatory species. We’re not conscious of the reduction or loss of predatory adaptations in any insular predatory taxon, and thus take into consideration it unlikely that the one of a kind morphology of Balaur, in certain the appendicular characters viewed as to be predatory adaptations among dromaeosaurids, may very well be sufficiently accounted for by the `island effect’. A lot of the characteristics considered to be autapomorphies of Balaur by Csiki et al. (2010) and Brusatte et al. (2013) are reinterpreted here as avialan synapomorphies. Consequently, these traits were inherited by Balaur from its bird-like ancestors prior to its lineage was isolated in the Hateg atmosphere. Since our analyses spot Balaur amongst a grade of non-predatory avialans like herbivorous and/or omnivorous species (Zhou Zhang, 2002; Dalstt et al., 2006; Zanno Makovicky, 2011), our preferred scenario does not a necessitate a hypothesis of a carnivorous ecology for this taxon and is therefore much more constant together with the absence with the aforementioned predatory adaptations. In addition, in assuming a herbivorous or omnivorous ecology for Balaur, the amount of morphological changes, especially in limb shapes and proportions, is comparable to that reported in several insular herbivorous and omnivorous taxa, including each mammals (MedChemExpress EC330 Sondaar, 1977; Caloi Palombo, 1994; Van der Geer et al., 2011) and dinosaurs (e.g., Dalla Vecchia, 2009). In distinct, the presence in Balaur of a relatively broad pelvic canal, the brief and broadCau et al. (2015), PeerJ, DOI 10.7717/peerj.25/Figure 7 Skeletal reconstruction of Balaur. Speculative skeletal reconstruction for Balaur bondoc, displaying recognized components in white and unknown components in grey. Note that the integument would presumably have substantially altered the outline in the animal in life. Developed by Jaime Headden, utilized with permission.metatarsus with mediolaterally expanded distal ends relative to the articular surfaces, and the presence of an enlarged 1st pedal digit is a combination of attributes convergently acquired only by the non-predatory clade Therizinosauridae amongst Mesozoic theropods (Zanno, 2010; Zanno Makovicky, 2011). Even so, we agree with preceding authors that, no matter its position inside Paraves, the morphology of Balaur involves a exclusive and unexpected mixture of attributes, otherwise noticed in distinct maniraptoran lineages. Interestingly, Balaur independently evolved a PubMed ID:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19996636 series of options previously reported in far more crownward bird lineages, for instance a deep depressio epicondylaris medialis in the tibiotarsus, a hypertrophied extensor fossa in the second metatarsal, and dorsally convex metata.
