: red parts are reconstructed from the fossil, blue parts are mirrors of the red parts, and yellow parts are estimations. The
trace fossil species
Ichniotherium sphaerodactylum, from
Bromacker in Germany, has been attributed to
Orobates. A study in 2015 found that the genus was characterized by a long body and tail, with fairly short legs and a short skull compared to the more derived
Diadectes. This indicates
Orobates was less specialised for long treks compared to
Diadectes. A three-dimensional digital reconstruction of the holotype specimen allowed further analysis of the postcranium. The
biomechanical data of the locomotion of the extant tetrapods and the digital models of
Orobates' holotype and fossilized trackways were then used to create a
dynamic simulation. It allowed the researchers to account for physical factors like
gravity,
friction, and
balance. The simulation was then validated under real-world conditions with a life-sized robot called OroBOT. The researchers tested 512 different
gaits and found that
Orobates moved most like a caiman. It had a relatively erect posture and walked with a slight side-to-side motion. A follow-up study focused on the muscle strains occurring within the muscles of the hindlimb in modelled strides at different postures. While results remained inconclusive towards favouring a single posture during locomotion, the overall results did not contradict the previous study based on OroBOT. ==References==