Cervical ligament systems in sauropod dinosaurs
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Jerry Harris
Dec 6, 2025, 11:12:11 PM (16 hours ago) Dec 6
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New paper, fresh off the press:
Williams, A.R., & Harris, J.D. (2025). Cervical ligament systems in sauropod dinosaurs: what support is there? Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology 13: 81–97. https://doi.org/10.18435/vamp29412
Abstract: Sauropod dinosaurs, such as Diplodocus and Dicraeosaurus, have been the subject of numerous hypotheses
about what ligamentous structures could have aided in lifting and
supporting their long necks. Because the supportive tissues rarely
fossilize, palaeontologists historically have relied on assumptions and
on presumed osteological correlates, such as rugosities, on cervical
vertebrae to infer their nature. Based on comparisons with extant
animals, options for supportive cervical ligaments in sauropods include
mammal-style nuchal ligaments, avian-style interlaminar elastic
ligaments, reptilian-style supraspinal ligaments, or some combination
thereof. This study tested for the presence of a mammal-style nuchal
ligament using histology and micro-computed tomography of cervical
hemispinous processes of Apatosaurus and Diplodocus, as well as the examination of gross morphological features of the cervical vertebrae of Apatosaurus, Diplodocus, and Camarasaurus. A non-uniform bone orientation in the thin sections from a hemispinous processes of Diplodocus and from micro-CT imaging of a hemispinous process of Apatosaurus
suggests that a dorsally or dorsolaterally positioned supraspinal
ligament, rather than a mammal-like nuchal ligament, attached to the
distal tips of the spines. Additionally, initial observations of
pseudospinous tubercula in Diplodocus and Apatosaurus
suggests that they also possessed interlaminar elastic ligaments in at
least portions of their necks. Whether or not such ligaments were the
sole means of cervical support and whether or not such ligaments were
capable of providing entirely passive (non- or minimally muscle aided)
neck support remain unclear. These findings could be incorporated into
future models of sauropod neck mobility and further the understanding of
sauropod feeding styles and mechanics.
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