Almost invariably, species with greatly reduced limbs are separated from inferred pentadactyl or tetradactyl ancestors by very few nodes, so that, assuming limb reduction has not been saltational (i.e., that synchronous loss of several digits from the manus and pes has not occurred), reconstruction of complete sequences of digit loss for individual lineages is not possible.
This swing phase view of comparative biomechanics is especially important when comparing taxa that differ greatly in limb mass distribution.
Tarsiers move through the forest by launching themselves from trunk to trunk propelled by their greatly elongated hind limbs.
However, the hind limbs are greatly reduced in size and the pelvis is not attached to the vertebral column, making the hind limbs unsuitable to support the body weight of these whales.
Basilosauridae retained protocetid-like skulls, but their hind limbs were greatly reduced, making them fully aquatic.
Those species in which limbs are greatly reduced (carpentariae, cinerea, humphriesi, karlschmidti, praepedita, stylis, wilkinsi) or absent (ameles, apoda) similarly are polyphyletic.
In mice lacking retinoic acid-synthesizing enzyme gene retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (Raldh2), Shh expression is greatly reduced in the limb buds and seen along the distal margin, whereas Hoxd11 and Hoxd12 are ectopically expressed in early limb buds [43].
Fin growth was greatly reduced, leaving room for limbs to develop.
(Rumors that the event, called Winterfest, was canceled because an ungainly counselor broke a limb have been greatly exaggerated, the university says).
The evolution of machining, adjuvant therapies, and imaging techniques has contributed greatly to the advances in limb-salvage surgery.
