Forelimbs of theropod dinosaurs on the basis of humeral bone strength.

The humeral section modulus is evaluated for members of Ceratosauria, Carnosauria, Tyrannosauroidea, Compsognathidae, Ornithomimosauria, Therizinosauria, Oviraptorosauria, Avialae, Troodontidae, and Dromaeosauridae to determine the strength of their forelinbs. The effects of scaling are evident. The strength of humeri shorter than 20 cm show no dependence on taxon. In contrast, the strength of humeri longer than 20 cm do show a dependence on taxon. Ceratosaurs, carnosaur, tyrannosaurs, and therizinosaurs have very strong humeri. Ornithomimosaurs are observed to have humeri that are weaker than the humeri of ceratosaurs, carnosaurs, and tyrannosaurs. The humeri of the herbivorous therizinosaurs are observed to have the same strength as the humeri of ceratosaurs, carnosaurs, and tyrannosaurs.