HOME | DD
Qilong — Microraptor Muscle Study
Published: 2005-12-30 02:16:31 +0000 UTC; Views: 13284; Favourites: 215; Downloads: 2077
Redirect to original
Description
This portrays a generalized muscle study of the tiny dromaeosaurid Microraptor gui, based on an outline skeleton without specific propotions adhered to, and modeled from generalized reptiulian and some specific avian muscle patterns. Done to consider how the limbs would look muscled and their apparent effect in being "birdy" or not. Notice the shallow belly, long legs, and the tendons of the arm that form propatagial and cheiropatagial membranes. The hands and feet are shown feathered and skinned, including squamation when relevant, to portray the feathers of the limbs that are integral to considering Microraptor in an evolutionary, biomechanical, and ecological sense.Related content
Comments: 33
I love this! Um... Can I give this Microraptor skin and feathers? I will give you the link then.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Can I use this pose for my Microraptor project please? Thanks. Microraptors are so cute!!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Of course! Note that this post was done JUST to show off the muscles. It may not be accurate.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
OK thanks, but I have another project in mind first: Hatzegopteryx vs Magyrosaurus, as a request from a friend. Please feel free to look at my artwork, I get the feeling that no one's looking.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
No one may be looking because you don't have much there. I would say post more, but also fave more. People see what you like and see what you pay attention to. It also brings traffic back to your side because people follow those threads interested in who is faving and why. Leave comments in plentitude!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
ah ok sorry for the late reply. I can't really post much anymore because I lost the thing I took pictures with. But I am asking for a DSi XL for my birthday in 3 months, and that has a camera. If I get it, I'll no doubt be posting more!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
thank you for posting this! microraptor is going to be one of my upcomming projects. many thanks for a beautiful refference pic!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
This image seems to be so popular I keep it in my featured section. (I think it's mostly about name recognition). You are very welcome.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is very meticulous and precise! Have you studied paleontology? The Microraptor gui has always fascinated me, and your attention to detail is quite stunning in this depiction.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah, I've studied biology, and done some work in the field of paleo. This is just art though.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
"Just" art? Without "art", where would the study of paleo be?
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
....may i please ask you how do you do to draw so clean curves like this..? my hand always shake a little when i do curves...and so the curve is not good..
also how do you do to have so smooth lines ? they're so neat.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Lots and lots and lots of practice!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Your attention to detail is mind-numbing. Great job.
Also, something of been wondering for a while (since Prehistoric Park), how well could microraptor have walked/ran on the ground (as is the 1 in your drawing)?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Probably quite well. I doubt it flew well at all, and its primary locomotor strategy would have been on its feet. the shape of the metatarsus implies that, unlike birds, the third metatarsal was separate from the others and was capable of controlling twist in the metatarsus, and this implies the animal was using its pes to turn.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
this is sweet, i love the muscles and pose
how come you only drew one wing?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Choco, it's only being shown from one side, and the other wing will be in the same position as this one, unlike the leg which is being shown in stride position. This makes it cluttering when I add that other wing, and its almost cluttered with the far leg there (but I felt it was important to show the feather fan on the fot with the ankle bent as it is.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
pretty sweet, 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
It may have flown, but the breast bone is long, but not to wide, and may have had simple muscles. These are larger than a non-flier would have, though, and so it may have done some jumping around, leaping fropm branch to branch, and flapped as it jumped around.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
This is interesting, few muscle studies are available.
Those shoulders to flanks tendons: are they known among extant birds also?
And I notice, as you've drawn it, finger III isn't free at all, but buried in the feathers.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah, the bones look like they werew stiff and hardly moveable, so only the last joint before the claw on the minor wing digit was moveable. And the tendons are known in living birds, they are just longer and usually connect close to the pelvis.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
