Editing Forelimb (section)

=== Shape ===
A number of factors can influence the evolution of forelimb long bone shape, such as body mass, lifestyle, predatory behavior, or relative prey size. A general pattern is for heavier species to have more robust radii, ulnas, and humeri.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Fabre|first1=Anne-Claire|last2=Cornette|first2=Raphael|last3=Peigné|first3=Stéphane|last4=Goswami|first4=Anjali|date=2013-05-21|title=Influence of body mass on the shape of forelimb in musteloid carnivorans|journal=Biological Journal of the Linnean Society|volume=110|issue=1|pages=91–103|doi=10.1111/bij.12103|issn=0024-4066|doi-access=free}}</ref>

[[Mustelidae|Musteloid]] carnivorans that have an arboreal lifestyle tend to have long and slender forelimb long bones, which allow for improved movement and flexibility. Semi-fossorial and aquatic musteloid species tend to have short and robust forelimb long bones to deal with the strain from digging and swimming.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Fabre|first1=Anne-Claire|last2=Cornette|first2=Raphael|last3=Goswami|first3=Anjali|last4=Peigné|first4=Stéphane|date=2015-05-21|title=Do constraints associated with the locomotor habitat drive the evolution of forelimb shape? A case study in musteloid carnivorans|journal=Journal of Anatomy|volume=226|issue=6|pages=596–610|doi=10.1111/joa.12315|pmid=25994128|pmc=4450962|issn=0021-8782|doi-access=free}}</ref>

In the order [[Carnivora]], felids, which usually ambush and grapple with their prey, have shorter and more robust limbs. Their forelimbs are used for both short sprints and grappling, which means that they need to be flexible and durable. In contrast, canids, which often pursue their prey over greater distances, have longer, more gracile limbs. Running is pretty much the only use for their forelimbs, so they do not need to be adapted for anything else and can be less flexible.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Meachen-Samuels|first1=Julie|last2=Van Valkenburgh|first2=Blaire|date=June 2009|title=Forelimb indicators of prey-size preference in the Felidae|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmor.10712|journal=Journal of Morphology|volume=270|issue=6|pages=729–744|doi=10.1002/jmor.10712|pmid=19123240|s2cid=20732642|issn=0362-2525|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Predators hunting prey that is half their body weight or greater evolved shorter and more sturdy radii, ulnas, and humeri to decrease the likelihood of the bone breaking or fracturing while hunting. Predators hunting prey less than half their body weight tended to have longer and more slender forelimb long bones to improve energetic efficiency.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Michaud|first1=Margot|last2=Veron|first2=Géraldine|last3=Fabre|first3=Anne-Claire|date=2020-11-06|title=Phenotypic integration in feliform carnivores: Covariation patterns and disparity in hypercarnivores versus generalists|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/evo.14112|journal=Evolution|volume=74|issue=12|pages=2681–2702|doi=10.1111/evo.14112|pmid=33085081|s2cid=224824184|issn=0014-3820|url-access=subscription}}</ref>