Re: Pygostyle-like structure from Beipiaosaurus

["James R. Cunningham" <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

A long tail can also increase an animal's ability to negotiate sharp
turns, if the tail is rather stiff, but is muscled at the base and
capable of abrupt bends there.  It allows the animal to play off the
moment of inertia of the tail, both to assist in starting the turn and
to stop it.
Jim

Tim Williams wrote:

> Perhaps a long tail reduced the animal's agility when running, such as when
> negotiating sharp turns (Carrier et al., 2000).