#  Researchers Look to Echidnas to Shed Light on Forelimb Evolution in Mammals 

 





November 14, 2018

 

 

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 Mammals use their forelimbs for many activities including swimming, jumping, flying, climbing and digging. But how they evolved to do so is a mystery for scientists. Postdoc, **Sophie Regnault** (S. Pierce Lab) and **Prof. Stephanie Pierce** studied a highly-detailed musculoskeletal model of an echidna forelimb to shed light on how extinct mammals might have used their forelimbs. Echidnas are egg-laying mammals with many anatomical features in common with earlier mammal ancestors and can help bridge the gap between extinct and other modern-day mammals.

 In their study published in *[Royal Society Open Science](http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/5/11/181400)*, Regnault and Pierce describe their virtual model, made using CT scans, and how the model can not only bring insight into the little-studied echidna, but can also guide reconstructions of extinct mammals. Media: [The Harvard Gazette](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/11/harvard-study-models-forelimbs-of-echidnas-to-shed-light-on-evolution/)

#####  *Image: Echnida by Mark Gillow on [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/28342603@N02/31819658688/in/photolist-QtN4WY-4AVFeQ-j46gj-5bc7vD-GD4wX-4iHQj7-5BWn9f-mjdPb-6aKyqb-5FEo3m-3Dc1UX-CcqK1S-hfHWwC-Bp5AVR-d9Roic-on5H6t-hfKogZ-rpCgHA-wYSSz-62KXgE-hfJfBU-hfKfi4-5FA3Tt-5FEnEf-hfJ4Z2-hfJrSw-6bd6FT-29R1dsy-FNMPaq-2389dtQ-hfHZko-8AiJY3-c33eab-am8sia-hfJ4QW-iyc8Hb-ahZdJt-pokqhL-bMWkTR-peeDRo-bz2EBu-pFvoKF-bNiHwH-MTmjgG-C4WA3Q-peffVj-6gU19c-24Z2i16-xzqi5D-hfJYZt)*



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Postdoc News ](/news-type/postdoc-news)
- [ Faculty News ](/news-type/faculty-news)
- [ 2018 ](/news-year/2018)