Anatomical Adaptation for Cursorial Locomotion (Designed for Running)

Description: Running is mainly about speed, obtained by combining stride rate and stride length. Stride rate is favoured by reducing limb mass (especially distally). Stride length is gained by increasing limb length (anatomically or physiologically). Rate and length are antagonistic, i.e. enhancing one compromises the other. Domestic mammals exhibit cursorial (running) adaptations to varying degrees: Carnivores require multipurpose limbs (both running & manipulating). Carnivores are fast because they have flexible trunks, which is possible because they have a meat diet (which is why they need multipurpose limbs). Herbivores, with roughage diets and bulky abdominal viscera, have relatively limited trunk flexion, but their limbs are freed to be devoted entirely to locomotion. Equine limbs have become so specialized, they resemble "machines" (reliance more on bone & ligament and less nerve and muscle). Thus locomotion and digestion are linked in evolution. This document considers: Anatomical adaptations for running (forelimb); Forelimb versus hindlimb differences; Carnivore versus herbivore digestive tracts. Muscle/Skeletal Specialization of Forelimbs is divided into: Generalized limb anatomy (evident in many mammals, reptiles, and birds); Limb adaptations running (to enhance stride length/rate). Forelimb versus Hindlimb Differences describe the different roles of the forelimbs and hindlimbs in cursorial quadrupeds, and explains the anatomical differences. Carnivore versus Herbivore Digestive Tracts explains how different diets of domestic mammals have associated anatomical, physiological, and behavioural implications. This section describes: Canine digestive tract; Ruminant digestive tract (cattle, sheep, goat, deer); and Equine digestive tract. The user may click to view Carnivore-Herbivore gait movie and additional comments and images on the web site.

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