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Fig. 3. CT scans of the internal anatomy of the raptorial appendage and the degree
of mineralization of the merus exoskeleton (gray is mineralized; transparent
regions represent relatively unmineralized exoskeleton). (A) Medial view of
the raptorial appendage (proximal to right of page; ventral toward the bottom
of the page) showing the large lateral extensor apodeme (e). Ventrally, the
lateral flexor apodeme (f) attaches to sclerite 2 (orange). Medial to sclerite
2 is the small, rod-shaped sclerite 1 (green). (B) An internal perspective of
the merus viewed from the distal end (lateral to left). Sclerite 2 (s2) is in
its resting, unlocked position such that it hangs externally between the merus
and carpus. The surface of the distal meral-V (v) articulation, which loosely
articulates with the carpus, contrasts with the large internal joint, which
forms the medial carpus joint articulation (j). (C) Same view as in B with
sclerite 2 and sclerite 1 (s1) in closed and braced positions. Note that
sclerite 1 does not appear to directly articulate with sclerite 2 when in the
closed position and instead folds medially relative to the edge of sclerite 2.
(D) Sclerites in resting position (medial view; distal to left). (E) Locked
positions of the sclerites with the carpus rotated counter-clockwise in
preparation to strike (medial view). m, merus; c, carpus; s, saddle; p,
propodus; b, ventral infolding of merus. Scale bars, 4 mm.
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