Dragon forelimb placementHow would you design a dragon-like creature so it could sew?Alien Griffin...
Fencing style for blades that can attack from a distance
Why not use SQL instead of GraphQL?
How can bays and straits be determined in a procedurally generated map?
Why don't electron-positron collisions release infinite energy?
Why do falling prices hurt debtors?
How much RAM could one put in a typical 80386 setup?
To string or not to string
How to find program name(s) of an installed package?
What are the differences between the usage of 'it' and 'they'?
What is the offset in a seaplane's hull?
Today is the Center
Can I make popcorn with any corn?
How could an uplifted falcon's brain work?
Why do I get two different answers for this counting problem?
Dragon forelimb placement
Theorem, big Paralist and Amsart
LaTeX closing $ signs makes cursor jump
How does one intimidate enemies without having the capacity for violence?
Has the BBC provided arguments for saying Brexit being cancelled is unlikely?
Why did the Germans forbid the possession of pet pigeons in Rostov-on-Don in 1941?
Can an x86 CPU running in real mode be considered to be basically an 8086 CPU?
Is this a crack on the carbon frame?
Python: next in for loop
Why are electrically insulating heatsinks so rare? Is it just cost?
Dragon forelimb placement
How would you design a dragon-like creature so it could sew?Alien Griffin DesignDragon evolving from humanoid: Ice dragonHow to butcher your dragon?Dragon developmentCould this Very Specific Dragon Fly?Adaptations of a Very Specific Dragon to this Combination of Large Size and FlightAnti-Dragon armor, shields and melee weaponsHow much pneumatization is possible?Dragon flight musclesGiving dragons more flight muscle
$begingroup$
Most dragons (before Skyrim and GoT) had six limbs in total, four legs and a pair of wings.
The question is how would a dragon's forelimbs be placed? It's obvious they have good terrestrial capabilities, without having long noodle legs. But then there's the flight muscle, it needs lots of space and a large attachment site, same goes for the wings. But how should I put the front legs on the dragon so that it doesn't interfere with the wings' motion? Sure, those things only move during climb out, but it' still troubling. Whatever I choose should be compact.
How and where would the front limbs of the dragon connect to the rest of the skeleton?
science-based creature-design dragons bio-mechanics
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Most dragons (before Skyrim and GoT) had six limbs in total, four legs and a pair of wings.
The question is how would a dragon's forelimbs be placed? It's obvious they have good terrestrial capabilities, without having long noodle legs. But then there's the flight muscle, it needs lots of space and a large attachment site, same goes for the wings. But how should I put the front legs on the dragon so that it doesn't interfere with the wings' motion? Sure, those things only move during climb out, but it' still troubling. Whatever I choose should be compact.
How and where would the front limbs of the dragon connect to the rest of the skeleton?
science-based creature-design dragons bio-mechanics
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Depends on the dragon's attitude in flight. The wings must attach to the spinal column so that when the dragon assumes the flight attitude the attachment is above the center of gravity (or maybe a little forward of it if the dragon has a suitable tail which can act as an airfoil). Conversely, if you fix the attachment of the wings to the spinal column you can assume that in flight the dragon will assume the attitude which brings the center of gravity below the wing attachment point. As for the muscles, they don't interfere; flight muscles attach most likely to the sternum, unlike limb muscles.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
There is no way to answer this question where it would connect would depend entirely on how and where the limb evolved, what joints it has, and where the muscles are ect. flight musculature is not uniform in vertebrates. Birds and bats have a very different layout of flight muscles for instance. Since we don't know these things we can not give a definitive answer, there are many many correct answers. The only thing you can do is lay out the limbs so their range of movements do not meet each other.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
I can suggest you look at the art from, A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent, it has probably the most sound anatomy I have ever seen for dragons, with a minimum of interference between the limbs. This will show you at least one way it can be done.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Most dragons (before Skyrim and GoT) had six limbs in total, four legs and a pair of wings.
The question is how would a dragon's forelimbs be placed? It's obvious they have good terrestrial capabilities, without having long noodle legs. But then there's the flight muscle, it needs lots of space and a large attachment site, same goes for the wings. But how should I put the front legs on the dragon so that it doesn't interfere with the wings' motion? Sure, those things only move during climb out, but it' still troubling. Whatever I choose should be compact.
How and where would the front limbs of the dragon connect to the rest of the skeleton?
science-based creature-design dragons bio-mechanics
$endgroup$
Most dragons (before Skyrim and GoT) had six limbs in total, four legs and a pair of wings.
The question is how would a dragon's forelimbs be placed? It's obvious they have good terrestrial capabilities, without having long noodle legs. But then there's the flight muscle, it needs lots of space and a large attachment site, same goes for the wings. But how should I put the front legs on the dragon so that it doesn't interfere with the wings' motion? Sure, those things only move during climb out, but it' still troubling. Whatever I choose should be compact.
How and where would the front limbs of the dragon connect to the rest of the skeleton?
science-based creature-design dragons bio-mechanics
science-based creature-design dragons bio-mechanics
edited 9 hours ago
Cyn
11.2k12453
11.2k12453
asked 10 hours ago
MephistophelesMephistopheles
2,1432934
2,1432934
$begingroup$
Depends on the dragon's attitude in flight. The wings must attach to the spinal column so that when the dragon assumes the flight attitude the attachment is above the center of gravity (or maybe a little forward of it if the dragon has a suitable tail which can act as an airfoil). Conversely, if you fix the attachment of the wings to the spinal column you can assume that in flight the dragon will assume the attitude which brings the center of gravity below the wing attachment point. As for the muscles, they don't interfere; flight muscles attach most likely to the sternum, unlike limb muscles.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
There is no way to answer this question where it would connect would depend entirely on how and where the limb evolved, what joints it has, and where the muscles are ect. flight musculature is not uniform in vertebrates. Birds and bats have a very different layout of flight muscles for instance. Since we don't know these things we can not give a definitive answer, there are many many correct answers. The only thing you can do is lay out the limbs so their range of movements do not meet each other.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
I can suggest you look at the art from, A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent, it has probably the most sound anatomy I have ever seen for dragons, with a minimum of interference between the limbs. This will show you at least one way it can be done.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Depends on the dragon's attitude in flight. The wings must attach to the spinal column so that when the dragon assumes the flight attitude the attachment is above the center of gravity (or maybe a little forward of it if the dragon has a suitable tail which can act as an airfoil). Conversely, if you fix the attachment of the wings to the spinal column you can assume that in flight the dragon will assume the attitude which brings the center of gravity below the wing attachment point. As for the muscles, they don't interfere; flight muscles attach most likely to the sternum, unlike limb muscles.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
There is no way to answer this question where it would connect would depend entirely on how and where the limb evolved, what joints it has, and where the muscles are ect. flight musculature is not uniform in vertebrates. Birds and bats have a very different layout of flight muscles for instance. Since we don't know these things we can not give a definitive answer, there are many many correct answers. The only thing you can do is lay out the limbs so their range of movements do not meet each other.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
I can suggest you look at the art from, A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent, it has probably the most sound anatomy I have ever seen for dragons, with a minimum of interference between the limbs. This will show you at least one way it can be done.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Depends on the dragon's attitude in flight. The wings must attach to the spinal column so that when the dragon assumes the flight attitude the attachment is above the center of gravity (or maybe a little forward of it if the dragon has a suitable tail which can act as an airfoil). Conversely, if you fix the attachment of the wings to the spinal column you can assume that in flight the dragon will assume the attitude which brings the center of gravity below the wing attachment point. As for the muscles, they don't interfere; flight muscles attach most likely to the sternum, unlike limb muscles.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
Depends on the dragon's attitude in flight. The wings must attach to the spinal column so that when the dragon assumes the flight attitude the attachment is above the center of gravity (or maybe a little forward of it if the dragon has a suitable tail which can act as an airfoil). Conversely, if you fix the attachment of the wings to the spinal column you can assume that in flight the dragon will assume the attitude which brings the center of gravity below the wing attachment point. As for the muscles, they don't interfere; flight muscles attach most likely to the sternum, unlike limb muscles.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
There is no way to answer this question where it would connect would depend entirely on how and where the limb evolved, what joints it has, and where the muscles are ect. flight musculature is not uniform in vertebrates. Birds and bats have a very different layout of flight muscles for instance. Since we don't know these things we can not give a definitive answer, there are many many correct answers. The only thing you can do is lay out the limbs so their range of movements do not meet each other.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
There is no way to answer this question where it would connect would depend entirely on how and where the limb evolved, what joints it has, and where the muscles are ect. flight musculature is not uniform in vertebrates. Birds and bats have a very different layout of flight muscles for instance. Since we don't know these things we can not give a definitive answer, there are many many correct answers. The only thing you can do is lay out the limbs so their range of movements do not meet each other.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
I can suggest you look at the art from, A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent, it has probably the most sound anatomy I have ever seen for dragons, with a minimum of interference between the limbs. This will show you at least one way it can be done.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
I can suggest you look at the art from, A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent, it has probably the most sound anatomy I have ever seen for dragons, with a minimum of interference between the limbs. This will show you at least one way it can be done.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Im not an avian biologists so i do not know if this configuration would be biomechanically sound, however it may prove to be some help to you.
Credit to Christopher Stoll
Shown here is a break down of the skin, muscle and bone layers of Toothless from the How to Train Your Dragon series. This image clearly depicts how and where the bones connect and where the muscle attatches to the skeleton. As i mentioned, i am not an avian biologist so i do not know if this setup would actually be functional in the real world, you may very well be able to draw inspiration from this though.
Edit: As you specified for an image containing the pectoralis, i found another one that depicts it.
http://mythicalanimalscience.blogspot.com/2015/04/dragons.html
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
As always, where's the pectoralis major?
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Regarding picture #2 Thank's you just solved (almost) all of my problems!
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
7 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris not an unsurmountable problem, but the artist of the drawing was so focused on the wings that he forgot to give the front paws proper joints. It can only move the paws straight forwards, and is very limited in it's motion. Again this isn't insurmountable. The artist also forgot to make the lower ribs stronger, as right now the sternum would be pulled into the abdomen and wreak havoc with the organs there with each wingbeat. an elongated ribcage would make the dragon walk very stiffly but allow it to fly without commiting seppuku.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Let us continue this discussion in chat.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
6 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
considering the first image basically has no flight muscles, no it cannot be sound.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
|
show 8 more comments
$begingroup$
Split the forelimb.
Making a 6 limbed creature from a tetrapod body plan is tricky. WB stack is littered with efforts on this front. Here is a new idea.
First, comparative skeletal anatomy.
https://www.slideshare.net/OmerRasool1/comparative-anatomy-skeletal-system-71723331
Look at the whale. Now imagine splitting the distal forelimb into two limbs: one with the radius as core and the other with the ulna. The radius and associated digits (5 at baseline but you can add more digits; polydactyly is fine) becomes the robust wing, availing itself of the scapula and other support structures.
The ulna also has digits and is much less robust. It would not be a stocky limb to match the hindlimb but something more like a Tyrannosaurus. These small forelimbs would touch the ground and allow ambulation but for fast motion they are not the equal to the hind limbs.
Having powerful back legs, powerful wings and spindly forelimbs means these dragons would not look like Toothless or Smaug.
Running at speed would be bipedal. The dragon would rear up and run like a bird. Wings might be used while running for propulsion or to jump. Some people think this use is how birds evolved wings in the first place.
The small front limbs would lend themselves to more delicate manipulation. Dragons could sit up and have a smoke, or play cards.
Front limbs might move during flight because they retain a connection to the humerus. Probably it would be some sort of rhythmic movement mirroring the wings.
In general I think dragons are depicted as too robust. I picture this dragon as along the lines of a crane.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
What if I made the bone larger, but hollow, and used my graphene-magic on it?
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
All the bones should be hollow to reduce weight, bird style. Hollow long bones should not be too troublesome - mammals have hollow bones too, but use the space for bone marrow. Your dragon can make blood in its spleen and have air inside its hollow bones.
$endgroup$
– Willk
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Your forelimb description made me think, Wasn't there a question awhile back asking how a dragon would go about knitting/sewing? Ha, there was!
$endgroup$
– EveryBitHelps
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The problem with wings is the necessary amount of power to lift the creature.
This is a bird skeleton:
Note the size of the sternum (the bone that all your ribs connect to). It's massive in comparison to ours and stands far out of the chest while a human sternum is basically flat in comparison. This sternum is what your pectoralis major muscles are attached to (the chest muscles).
The sheer size is because the muscles attached to it, shown here:
These absolutely humongous muscles are required to lift the weight of the entire creature up in the air, and the larger the bird the more % of the bird must be pectoralis major muscles just to keep it in the air due to the square cube law, but you can ignore this for the sake of cool. Despite this suspension of belief on the part of the square cube law you still want a bodyplan that can handle 4 paws and 2 wings simultaneously.
Note how these skeletons lack a large scapula. In the first picture you can see it mentioned but it's tiny and largely immobilized because everything is focused on that up/down movement of the arms, not about reaching forwards, backwards, upwards or downwards.
Having to have muscles attached to the chest for these extra appandages would diminish the amount of muscles for your wings. You could slightly circumvent this through kinematic chains.
An example of a kinematic chain is your quadriceps of your leg, or any other muscle that moves over more than 1 joint in the body. If you have muscles pull on one end of the bone they are attached to, you can use that to pull on the quadriceps, the quadriceps us that to pull on the muscle one joint removed, allowing you to transfer the muscle power from one bodypart to another. You attach a portion of the pectoralis major muscles to the dragon's leg, and have muscles above it attached to the wing (likely an adapted version of the triceps, romboideus, one part of the deloideus and trapezius). When flying the leg will be pulled down in the same motion as the wings and the muscles above that will simultaneously pull on the wings, allowing you to transfer the muscle power that went into the leg into the wing as well. This isn't wildly efficient and would likely make the leg flop up and down with the wingbeats, but it's an option. Ofcourse if you time it right and pull just as hard on the leg as on the wings, the leg would effectively keep still during flight. Although you'd be better off pulling it in as it would stretch the muscles above it and with that pull the wings.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Although note in birds that swelling is the muscles to flap and the muscles to lift the limbs, birds layer thos muscles on top of each other.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Any depiction by Larry Elmore should suffice. More like angles; their forelegs are actually arms, and the wings protrude from their back, beginning just below the shoulder blades.
Dragonlance's blue dragon, Skie, as pictured by Larry Elmore in the original cover art for, Dragons of Winter Night.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "579"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworldbuilding.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f143396%2fdragon-forelimb-placement%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Im not an avian biologists so i do not know if this configuration would be biomechanically sound, however it may prove to be some help to you.
Credit to Christopher Stoll
Shown here is a break down of the skin, muscle and bone layers of Toothless from the How to Train Your Dragon series. This image clearly depicts how and where the bones connect and where the muscle attatches to the skeleton. As i mentioned, i am not an avian biologist so i do not know if this setup would actually be functional in the real world, you may very well be able to draw inspiration from this though.
Edit: As you specified for an image containing the pectoralis, i found another one that depicts it.
http://mythicalanimalscience.blogspot.com/2015/04/dragons.html
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
As always, where's the pectoralis major?
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Regarding picture #2 Thank's you just solved (almost) all of my problems!
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
7 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris not an unsurmountable problem, but the artist of the drawing was so focused on the wings that he forgot to give the front paws proper joints. It can only move the paws straight forwards, and is very limited in it's motion. Again this isn't insurmountable. The artist also forgot to make the lower ribs stronger, as right now the sternum would be pulled into the abdomen and wreak havoc with the organs there with each wingbeat. an elongated ribcage would make the dragon walk very stiffly but allow it to fly without commiting seppuku.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Let us continue this discussion in chat.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
6 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
considering the first image basically has no flight muscles, no it cannot be sound.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
|
show 8 more comments
$begingroup$
Im not an avian biologists so i do not know if this configuration would be biomechanically sound, however it may prove to be some help to you.
Credit to Christopher Stoll
Shown here is a break down of the skin, muscle and bone layers of Toothless from the How to Train Your Dragon series. This image clearly depicts how and where the bones connect and where the muscle attatches to the skeleton. As i mentioned, i am not an avian biologist so i do not know if this setup would actually be functional in the real world, you may very well be able to draw inspiration from this though.
Edit: As you specified for an image containing the pectoralis, i found another one that depicts it.
http://mythicalanimalscience.blogspot.com/2015/04/dragons.html
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
As always, where's the pectoralis major?
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Regarding picture #2 Thank's you just solved (almost) all of my problems!
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
7 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris not an unsurmountable problem, but the artist of the drawing was so focused on the wings that he forgot to give the front paws proper joints. It can only move the paws straight forwards, and is very limited in it's motion. Again this isn't insurmountable. The artist also forgot to make the lower ribs stronger, as right now the sternum would be pulled into the abdomen and wreak havoc with the organs there with each wingbeat. an elongated ribcage would make the dragon walk very stiffly but allow it to fly without commiting seppuku.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Let us continue this discussion in chat.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
6 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
considering the first image basically has no flight muscles, no it cannot be sound.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
|
show 8 more comments
$begingroup$
Im not an avian biologists so i do not know if this configuration would be biomechanically sound, however it may prove to be some help to you.
Credit to Christopher Stoll
Shown here is a break down of the skin, muscle and bone layers of Toothless from the How to Train Your Dragon series. This image clearly depicts how and where the bones connect and where the muscle attatches to the skeleton. As i mentioned, i am not an avian biologist so i do not know if this setup would actually be functional in the real world, you may very well be able to draw inspiration from this though.
Edit: As you specified for an image containing the pectoralis, i found another one that depicts it.
http://mythicalanimalscience.blogspot.com/2015/04/dragons.html
$endgroup$
Im not an avian biologists so i do not know if this configuration would be biomechanically sound, however it may prove to be some help to you.
Credit to Christopher Stoll
Shown here is a break down of the skin, muscle and bone layers of Toothless from the How to Train Your Dragon series. This image clearly depicts how and where the bones connect and where the muscle attatches to the skeleton. As i mentioned, i am not an avian biologist so i do not know if this setup would actually be functional in the real world, you may very well be able to draw inspiration from this though.
Edit: As you specified for an image containing the pectoralis, i found another one that depicts it.
http://mythicalanimalscience.blogspot.com/2015/04/dragons.html
edited 7 hours ago
answered 9 hours ago
Liam MorrisLiam Morris
1,031317
1,031317
$begingroup$
As always, where's the pectoralis major?
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Regarding picture #2 Thank's you just solved (almost) all of my problems!
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
7 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris not an unsurmountable problem, but the artist of the drawing was so focused on the wings that he forgot to give the front paws proper joints. It can only move the paws straight forwards, and is very limited in it's motion. Again this isn't insurmountable. The artist also forgot to make the lower ribs stronger, as right now the sternum would be pulled into the abdomen and wreak havoc with the organs there with each wingbeat. an elongated ribcage would make the dragon walk very stiffly but allow it to fly without commiting seppuku.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Let us continue this discussion in chat.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
6 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
considering the first image basically has no flight muscles, no it cannot be sound.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
|
show 8 more comments
$begingroup$
As always, where's the pectoralis major?
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Regarding picture #2 Thank's you just solved (almost) all of my problems!
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
7 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris not an unsurmountable problem, but the artist of the drawing was so focused on the wings that he forgot to give the front paws proper joints. It can only move the paws straight forwards, and is very limited in it's motion. Again this isn't insurmountable. The artist also forgot to make the lower ribs stronger, as right now the sternum would be pulled into the abdomen and wreak havoc with the organs there with each wingbeat. an elongated ribcage would make the dragon walk very stiffly but allow it to fly without commiting seppuku.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Let us continue this discussion in chat.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
6 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
considering the first image basically has no flight muscles, no it cannot be sound.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
As always, where's the pectoralis major?
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
As always, where's the pectoralis major?
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
8 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Regarding picture #2 Thank's you just solved (almost) all of my problems!
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Regarding picture #2 Thank's you just solved (almost) all of my problems!
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
7 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris not an unsurmountable problem, but the artist of the drawing was so focused on the wings that he forgot to give the front paws proper joints. It can only move the paws straight forwards, and is very limited in it's motion. Again this isn't insurmountable. The artist also forgot to make the lower ribs stronger, as right now the sternum would be pulled into the abdomen and wreak havoc with the organs there with each wingbeat. an elongated ribcage would make the dragon walk very stiffly but allow it to fly without commiting seppuku.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris not an unsurmountable problem, but the artist of the drawing was so focused on the wings that he forgot to give the front paws proper joints. It can only move the paws straight forwards, and is very limited in it's motion. Again this isn't insurmountable. The artist also forgot to make the lower ribs stronger, as right now the sternum would be pulled into the abdomen and wreak havoc with the organs there with each wingbeat. an elongated ribcage would make the dragon walk very stiffly but allow it to fly without commiting seppuku.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
7 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Let us continue this discussion in chat.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Let us continue this discussion in chat.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
6 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
considering the first image basically has no flight muscles, no it cannot be sound.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
considering the first image basically has no flight muscles, no it cannot be sound.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
|
show 8 more comments
$begingroup$
Split the forelimb.
Making a 6 limbed creature from a tetrapod body plan is tricky. WB stack is littered with efforts on this front. Here is a new idea.
First, comparative skeletal anatomy.
https://www.slideshare.net/OmerRasool1/comparative-anatomy-skeletal-system-71723331
Look at the whale. Now imagine splitting the distal forelimb into two limbs: one with the radius as core and the other with the ulna. The radius and associated digits (5 at baseline but you can add more digits; polydactyly is fine) becomes the robust wing, availing itself of the scapula and other support structures.
The ulna also has digits and is much less robust. It would not be a stocky limb to match the hindlimb but something more like a Tyrannosaurus. These small forelimbs would touch the ground and allow ambulation but for fast motion they are not the equal to the hind limbs.
Having powerful back legs, powerful wings and spindly forelimbs means these dragons would not look like Toothless or Smaug.
Running at speed would be bipedal. The dragon would rear up and run like a bird. Wings might be used while running for propulsion or to jump. Some people think this use is how birds evolved wings in the first place.
The small front limbs would lend themselves to more delicate manipulation. Dragons could sit up and have a smoke, or play cards.
Front limbs might move during flight because they retain a connection to the humerus. Probably it would be some sort of rhythmic movement mirroring the wings.
In general I think dragons are depicted as too robust. I picture this dragon as along the lines of a crane.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
What if I made the bone larger, but hollow, and used my graphene-magic on it?
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
All the bones should be hollow to reduce weight, bird style. Hollow long bones should not be too troublesome - mammals have hollow bones too, but use the space for bone marrow. Your dragon can make blood in its spleen and have air inside its hollow bones.
$endgroup$
– Willk
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Your forelimb description made me think, Wasn't there a question awhile back asking how a dragon would go about knitting/sewing? Ha, there was!
$endgroup$
– EveryBitHelps
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Split the forelimb.
Making a 6 limbed creature from a tetrapod body plan is tricky. WB stack is littered with efforts on this front. Here is a new idea.
First, comparative skeletal anatomy.
https://www.slideshare.net/OmerRasool1/comparative-anatomy-skeletal-system-71723331
Look at the whale. Now imagine splitting the distal forelimb into two limbs: one with the radius as core and the other with the ulna. The radius and associated digits (5 at baseline but you can add more digits; polydactyly is fine) becomes the robust wing, availing itself of the scapula and other support structures.
The ulna also has digits and is much less robust. It would not be a stocky limb to match the hindlimb but something more like a Tyrannosaurus. These small forelimbs would touch the ground and allow ambulation but for fast motion they are not the equal to the hind limbs.
Having powerful back legs, powerful wings and spindly forelimbs means these dragons would not look like Toothless or Smaug.
Running at speed would be bipedal. The dragon would rear up and run like a bird. Wings might be used while running for propulsion or to jump. Some people think this use is how birds evolved wings in the first place.
The small front limbs would lend themselves to more delicate manipulation. Dragons could sit up and have a smoke, or play cards.
Front limbs might move during flight because they retain a connection to the humerus. Probably it would be some sort of rhythmic movement mirroring the wings.
In general I think dragons are depicted as too robust. I picture this dragon as along the lines of a crane.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
What if I made the bone larger, but hollow, and used my graphene-magic on it?
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
All the bones should be hollow to reduce weight, bird style. Hollow long bones should not be too troublesome - mammals have hollow bones too, but use the space for bone marrow. Your dragon can make blood in its spleen and have air inside its hollow bones.
$endgroup$
– Willk
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Your forelimb description made me think, Wasn't there a question awhile back asking how a dragon would go about knitting/sewing? Ha, there was!
$endgroup$
– EveryBitHelps
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Split the forelimb.
Making a 6 limbed creature from a tetrapod body plan is tricky. WB stack is littered with efforts on this front. Here is a new idea.
First, comparative skeletal anatomy.
https://www.slideshare.net/OmerRasool1/comparative-anatomy-skeletal-system-71723331
Look at the whale. Now imagine splitting the distal forelimb into two limbs: one with the radius as core and the other with the ulna. The radius and associated digits (5 at baseline but you can add more digits; polydactyly is fine) becomes the robust wing, availing itself of the scapula and other support structures.
The ulna also has digits and is much less robust. It would not be a stocky limb to match the hindlimb but something more like a Tyrannosaurus. These small forelimbs would touch the ground and allow ambulation but for fast motion they are not the equal to the hind limbs.
Having powerful back legs, powerful wings and spindly forelimbs means these dragons would not look like Toothless or Smaug.
Running at speed would be bipedal. The dragon would rear up and run like a bird. Wings might be used while running for propulsion or to jump. Some people think this use is how birds evolved wings in the first place.
The small front limbs would lend themselves to more delicate manipulation. Dragons could sit up and have a smoke, or play cards.
Front limbs might move during flight because they retain a connection to the humerus. Probably it would be some sort of rhythmic movement mirroring the wings.
In general I think dragons are depicted as too robust. I picture this dragon as along the lines of a crane.
$endgroup$
Split the forelimb.
Making a 6 limbed creature from a tetrapod body plan is tricky. WB stack is littered with efforts on this front. Here is a new idea.
First, comparative skeletal anatomy.
https://www.slideshare.net/OmerRasool1/comparative-anatomy-skeletal-system-71723331
Look at the whale. Now imagine splitting the distal forelimb into two limbs: one with the radius as core and the other with the ulna. The radius and associated digits (5 at baseline but you can add more digits; polydactyly is fine) becomes the robust wing, availing itself of the scapula and other support structures.
The ulna also has digits and is much less robust. It would not be a stocky limb to match the hindlimb but something more like a Tyrannosaurus. These small forelimbs would touch the ground and allow ambulation but for fast motion they are not the equal to the hind limbs.
Having powerful back legs, powerful wings and spindly forelimbs means these dragons would not look like Toothless or Smaug.
Running at speed would be bipedal. The dragon would rear up and run like a bird. Wings might be used while running for propulsion or to jump. Some people think this use is how birds evolved wings in the first place.
The small front limbs would lend themselves to more delicate manipulation. Dragons could sit up and have a smoke, or play cards.
Front limbs might move during flight because they retain a connection to the humerus. Probably it would be some sort of rhythmic movement mirroring the wings.
In general I think dragons are depicted as too robust. I picture this dragon as along the lines of a crane.
answered 8 hours ago
WillkWillk
116k27219487
116k27219487
$begingroup$
What if I made the bone larger, but hollow, and used my graphene-magic on it?
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
All the bones should be hollow to reduce weight, bird style. Hollow long bones should not be too troublesome - mammals have hollow bones too, but use the space for bone marrow. Your dragon can make blood in its spleen and have air inside its hollow bones.
$endgroup$
– Willk
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Your forelimb description made me think, Wasn't there a question awhile back asking how a dragon would go about knitting/sewing? Ha, there was!
$endgroup$
– EveryBitHelps
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
What if I made the bone larger, but hollow, and used my graphene-magic on it?
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
All the bones should be hollow to reduce weight, bird style. Hollow long bones should not be too troublesome - mammals have hollow bones too, but use the space for bone marrow. Your dragon can make blood in its spleen and have air inside its hollow bones.
$endgroup$
– Willk
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Your forelimb description made me think, Wasn't there a question awhile back asking how a dragon would go about knitting/sewing? Ha, there was!
$endgroup$
– EveryBitHelps
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
What if I made the bone larger, but hollow, and used my graphene-magic on it?
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
What if I made the bone larger, but hollow, and used my graphene-magic on it?
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
All the bones should be hollow to reduce weight, bird style. Hollow long bones should not be too troublesome - mammals have hollow bones too, but use the space for bone marrow. Your dragon can make blood in its spleen and have air inside its hollow bones.
$endgroup$
– Willk
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
All the bones should be hollow to reduce weight, bird style. Hollow long bones should not be too troublesome - mammals have hollow bones too, but use the space for bone marrow. Your dragon can make blood in its spleen and have air inside its hollow bones.
$endgroup$
– Willk
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Your forelimb description made me think, Wasn't there a question awhile back asking how a dragon would go about knitting/sewing? Ha, there was!
$endgroup$
– EveryBitHelps
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
Your forelimb description made me think, Wasn't there a question awhile back asking how a dragon would go about knitting/sewing? Ha, there was!
$endgroup$
– EveryBitHelps
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The problem with wings is the necessary amount of power to lift the creature.
This is a bird skeleton:
Note the size of the sternum (the bone that all your ribs connect to). It's massive in comparison to ours and stands far out of the chest while a human sternum is basically flat in comparison. This sternum is what your pectoralis major muscles are attached to (the chest muscles).
The sheer size is because the muscles attached to it, shown here:
These absolutely humongous muscles are required to lift the weight of the entire creature up in the air, and the larger the bird the more % of the bird must be pectoralis major muscles just to keep it in the air due to the square cube law, but you can ignore this for the sake of cool. Despite this suspension of belief on the part of the square cube law you still want a bodyplan that can handle 4 paws and 2 wings simultaneously.
Note how these skeletons lack a large scapula. In the first picture you can see it mentioned but it's tiny and largely immobilized because everything is focused on that up/down movement of the arms, not about reaching forwards, backwards, upwards or downwards.
Having to have muscles attached to the chest for these extra appandages would diminish the amount of muscles for your wings. You could slightly circumvent this through kinematic chains.
An example of a kinematic chain is your quadriceps of your leg, or any other muscle that moves over more than 1 joint in the body. If you have muscles pull on one end of the bone they are attached to, you can use that to pull on the quadriceps, the quadriceps us that to pull on the muscle one joint removed, allowing you to transfer the muscle power from one bodypart to another. You attach a portion of the pectoralis major muscles to the dragon's leg, and have muscles above it attached to the wing (likely an adapted version of the triceps, romboideus, one part of the deloideus and trapezius). When flying the leg will be pulled down in the same motion as the wings and the muscles above that will simultaneously pull on the wings, allowing you to transfer the muscle power that went into the leg into the wing as well. This isn't wildly efficient and would likely make the leg flop up and down with the wingbeats, but it's an option. Ofcourse if you time it right and pull just as hard on the leg as on the wings, the leg would effectively keep still during flight. Although you'd be better off pulling it in as it would stretch the muscles above it and with that pull the wings.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Although note in birds that swelling is the muscles to flap and the muscles to lift the limbs, birds layer thos muscles on top of each other.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The problem with wings is the necessary amount of power to lift the creature.
This is a bird skeleton:
Note the size of the sternum (the bone that all your ribs connect to). It's massive in comparison to ours and stands far out of the chest while a human sternum is basically flat in comparison. This sternum is what your pectoralis major muscles are attached to (the chest muscles).
The sheer size is because the muscles attached to it, shown here:
These absolutely humongous muscles are required to lift the weight of the entire creature up in the air, and the larger the bird the more % of the bird must be pectoralis major muscles just to keep it in the air due to the square cube law, but you can ignore this for the sake of cool. Despite this suspension of belief on the part of the square cube law you still want a bodyplan that can handle 4 paws and 2 wings simultaneously.
Note how these skeletons lack a large scapula. In the first picture you can see it mentioned but it's tiny and largely immobilized because everything is focused on that up/down movement of the arms, not about reaching forwards, backwards, upwards or downwards.
Having to have muscles attached to the chest for these extra appandages would diminish the amount of muscles for your wings. You could slightly circumvent this through kinematic chains.
An example of a kinematic chain is your quadriceps of your leg, or any other muscle that moves over more than 1 joint in the body. If you have muscles pull on one end of the bone they are attached to, you can use that to pull on the quadriceps, the quadriceps us that to pull on the muscle one joint removed, allowing you to transfer the muscle power from one bodypart to another. You attach a portion of the pectoralis major muscles to the dragon's leg, and have muscles above it attached to the wing (likely an adapted version of the triceps, romboideus, one part of the deloideus and trapezius). When flying the leg will be pulled down in the same motion as the wings and the muscles above that will simultaneously pull on the wings, allowing you to transfer the muscle power that went into the leg into the wing as well. This isn't wildly efficient and would likely make the leg flop up and down with the wingbeats, but it's an option. Ofcourse if you time it right and pull just as hard on the leg as on the wings, the leg would effectively keep still during flight. Although you'd be better off pulling it in as it would stretch the muscles above it and with that pull the wings.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Although note in birds that swelling is the muscles to flap and the muscles to lift the limbs, birds layer thos muscles on top of each other.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The problem with wings is the necessary amount of power to lift the creature.
This is a bird skeleton:
Note the size of the sternum (the bone that all your ribs connect to). It's massive in comparison to ours and stands far out of the chest while a human sternum is basically flat in comparison. This sternum is what your pectoralis major muscles are attached to (the chest muscles).
The sheer size is because the muscles attached to it, shown here:
These absolutely humongous muscles are required to lift the weight of the entire creature up in the air, and the larger the bird the more % of the bird must be pectoralis major muscles just to keep it in the air due to the square cube law, but you can ignore this for the sake of cool. Despite this suspension of belief on the part of the square cube law you still want a bodyplan that can handle 4 paws and 2 wings simultaneously.
Note how these skeletons lack a large scapula. In the first picture you can see it mentioned but it's tiny and largely immobilized because everything is focused on that up/down movement of the arms, not about reaching forwards, backwards, upwards or downwards.
Having to have muscles attached to the chest for these extra appandages would diminish the amount of muscles for your wings. You could slightly circumvent this through kinematic chains.
An example of a kinematic chain is your quadriceps of your leg, or any other muscle that moves over more than 1 joint in the body. If you have muscles pull on one end of the bone they are attached to, you can use that to pull on the quadriceps, the quadriceps us that to pull on the muscle one joint removed, allowing you to transfer the muscle power from one bodypart to another. You attach a portion of the pectoralis major muscles to the dragon's leg, and have muscles above it attached to the wing (likely an adapted version of the triceps, romboideus, one part of the deloideus and trapezius). When flying the leg will be pulled down in the same motion as the wings and the muscles above that will simultaneously pull on the wings, allowing you to transfer the muscle power that went into the leg into the wing as well. This isn't wildly efficient and would likely make the leg flop up and down with the wingbeats, but it's an option. Ofcourse if you time it right and pull just as hard on the leg as on the wings, the leg would effectively keep still during flight. Although you'd be better off pulling it in as it would stretch the muscles above it and with that pull the wings.
$endgroup$
The problem with wings is the necessary amount of power to lift the creature.
This is a bird skeleton:
Note the size of the sternum (the bone that all your ribs connect to). It's massive in comparison to ours and stands far out of the chest while a human sternum is basically flat in comparison. This sternum is what your pectoralis major muscles are attached to (the chest muscles).
The sheer size is because the muscles attached to it, shown here:
These absolutely humongous muscles are required to lift the weight of the entire creature up in the air, and the larger the bird the more % of the bird must be pectoralis major muscles just to keep it in the air due to the square cube law, but you can ignore this for the sake of cool. Despite this suspension of belief on the part of the square cube law you still want a bodyplan that can handle 4 paws and 2 wings simultaneously.
Note how these skeletons lack a large scapula. In the first picture you can see it mentioned but it's tiny and largely immobilized because everything is focused on that up/down movement of the arms, not about reaching forwards, backwards, upwards or downwards.
Having to have muscles attached to the chest for these extra appandages would diminish the amount of muscles for your wings. You could slightly circumvent this through kinematic chains.
An example of a kinematic chain is your quadriceps of your leg, or any other muscle that moves over more than 1 joint in the body. If you have muscles pull on one end of the bone they are attached to, you can use that to pull on the quadriceps, the quadriceps us that to pull on the muscle one joint removed, allowing you to transfer the muscle power from one bodypart to another. You attach a portion of the pectoralis major muscles to the dragon's leg, and have muscles above it attached to the wing (likely an adapted version of the triceps, romboideus, one part of the deloideus and trapezius). When flying the leg will be pulled down in the same motion as the wings and the muscles above that will simultaneously pull on the wings, allowing you to transfer the muscle power that went into the leg into the wing as well. This isn't wildly efficient and would likely make the leg flop up and down with the wingbeats, but it's an option. Ofcourse if you time it right and pull just as hard on the leg as on the wings, the leg would effectively keep still during flight. Although you'd be better off pulling it in as it would stretch the muscles above it and with that pull the wings.
answered 7 hours ago
DemiganDemigan
10.7k11052
10.7k11052
$begingroup$
Although note in birds that swelling is the muscles to flap and the muscles to lift the limbs, birds layer thos muscles on top of each other.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Although note in birds that swelling is the muscles to flap and the muscles to lift the limbs, birds layer thos muscles on top of each other.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Although note in birds that swelling is the muscles to flap and the muscles to lift the limbs, birds layer thos muscles on top of each other.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Although note in birds that swelling is the muscles to flap and the muscles to lift the limbs, birds layer thos muscles on top of each other.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Any depiction by Larry Elmore should suffice. More like angles; their forelegs are actually arms, and the wings protrude from their back, beginning just below the shoulder blades.
Dragonlance's blue dragon, Skie, as pictured by Larry Elmore in the original cover art for, Dragons of Winter Night.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Any depiction by Larry Elmore should suffice. More like angles; their forelegs are actually arms, and the wings protrude from their back, beginning just below the shoulder blades.
Dragonlance's blue dragon, Skie, as pictured by Larry Elmore in the original cover art for, Dragons of Winter Night.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Any depiction by Larry Elmore should suffice. More like angles; their forelegs are actually arms, and the wings protrude from their back, beginning just below the shoulder blades.
Dragonlance's blue dragon, Skie, as pictured by Larry Elmore in the original cover art for, Dragons of Winter Night.
$endgroup$
Any depiction by Larry Elmore should suffice. More like angles; their forelegs are actually arms, and the wings protrude from their back, beginning just below the shoulder blades.
Dragonlance's blue dragon, Skie, as pictured by Larry Elmore in the original cover art for, Dragons of Winter Night.
answered 4 hours ago
MazuraMazura
2,564914
2,564914
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Worldbuilding Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworldbuilding.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f143396%2fdragon-forelimb-placement%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
$begingroup$
Depends on the dragon's attitude in flight. The wings must attach to the spinal column so that when the dragon assumes the flight attitude the attachment is above the center of gravity (or maybe a little forward of it if the dragon has a suitable tail which can act as an airfoil). Conversely, if you fix the attachment of the wings to the spinal column you can assume that in flight the dragon will assume the attitude which brings the center of gravity below the wing attachment point. As for the muscles, they don't interfere; flight muscles attach most likely to the sternum, unlike limb muscles.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
There is no way to answer this question where it would connect would depend entirely on how and where the limb evolved, what joints it has, and where the muscles are ect. flight musculature is not uniform in vertebrates. Birds and bats have a very different layout of flight muscles for instance. Since we don't know these things we can not give a definitive answer, there are many many correct answers. The only thing you can do is lay out the limbs so their range of movements do not meet each other.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
I can suggest you look at the art from, A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent, it has probably the most sound anatomy I have ever seen for dragons, with a minimum of interference between the limbs. This will show you at least one way it can be done.
$endgroup$
– John
6 hours ago