{{short description|Extinct genus of reptiliomorphs}} {{Automatic taxobox | fossil_range = Cisuralian | image = Orobates.png | image_caption = Holotype specimen | taxon= Orobates | authority = Berman ''et al.'', 2004 | type_species = ''Orobates pabsti'' | type_species_authority = Berman ''et al.'', 2004 }}
'''''Orobates''''' is an extinct genus of diadectid reptiliomorphs that lived during the Early Permian. Its fossilised remains were found in Germany.<ref name="Orobates">{{cite journal |last1=Berman |first1=D. S. |last2=Henrici |first2=A. C. |last3=Kissel |first3=R. A. |last4=Sumida |first4=S. S. |last5=Martens |first5=T. |title=A new diadectid (Diadectomorpha), ''Orobates pabsti'', from the Early Permian of Central Germany |journal=Bulletin of Carnegie Museum of Natural History |date=2004 |volume=35 |pages=1–36 |doi=10.2992/0145-9058(2004)35[1:ANDDOP]2.0.CO;2|s2cid=86621953 }}</ref> A combination of primitive and derived traits (i.e. autapomorphic and plesiomorphic) distinguish it from all other well-known members of Diadectidae, a family of herbivorous reptiliomorphs. It weighed about 4 kg and appears to have been part of an upland fauna, browsing on high fibre plants.<ref name=Orobates/><ref name="PLoS One">{{cite journal|first1=J. A.|last1=Nyakatura|first2=V. R.|last2=Allen|first3=J.|last3=Lauströer|first4=A.|last4=Andikfar|first5=M.|last5=Danczak|first6=H.-J.|last6=Ullrich|first7=W.|last7=Hufenbach|first8=T.|last8=Martens|first9=M. S.|last9=Fischer|title=A Three-Dimensional Skeletal Reconstruction of the Stem Amniote Orobates pabsti (Diadectidae): Analyses of Body Mass, Centre of Mass Position, and Joint Mobility|journal=PLOS ONE|date=10 September 2015|article-number=e0137284|volume=10|issue=9|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0137284|pmid=26355297|pmc=4565719|doi-access=free}}</ref> thumb|left|Restoration
== Locomotion == [[File:Orobates Pabsti-3.jpg|thumb|Model of an ''Orobates'' made by the Humboldt University: red parts are reconstructed from the fossil, blue parts are mirrors of the red parts, and yellow parts are estimations.]] The trace fossil species ''Ichniotherium sphaerodactylum'', from Bromacker in Germany, has been attributed to ''Orobates''.<ref name="JoVB">{{cite journal|last1=Voigt|first1=S.|last2=Berman|first2=D. S.|last3=Henrici|first3=A. C.|date=2007|title=First well-established track-trackmaker association of Paleozoic tetrapods based on ''Ichniotherium'' trackways and diadectid skeletons from the Lower Permian of Germany|journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology|volume=27|issue=3|pages=553–570|doi=10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[553:FWTAOP]2.0.CO;2|s2cid=131256847 }}</ref> A study in 2015 found that the genus was characterized by a long body and tail, with fairly short legs and a short skull compared to the more derived ''Diadectes''. This indicates ''Orobates'' was less specialised for long treks compared to ''Diadectes''. A three-dimensional digital reconstruction of the holotype specimen allowed further analysis of the postcranium.<ref name="PLoS One"/> An analysis of the mobility of the hip joint of the reconstructed holotype indicated that its limb function was similar to that of modern salamanders.<ref name="PLoS One"/>
A detailed multidisciplinary study published in 2019 found that ''Orobates'' moved more like modern caimans than salamanders. The study began with the digitization of its holotype specimen using CT scanning to figure out the range of motion of its joints. A digital model of its fossil trackways helped narrow down the possibilities. The researchers also studied the locomotion of four extant sprawling tetrapods using X-ray motion analysis. The extant tetrapods chosen for the study were axolotls, blue-tongued skinks, green iguanas, and spectacled caimans.<ref name="Nature">{{cite journal|last1=Nyakatura|first1=J. A.|last2=Melo|first2=K.|last3=Horvat|first3=T.|last4=Karakasiliotis|first4=K.|last5=Allen|first5=V. R.|last6=Andikfar|first6=A.|last7=Andrada|first7=E.|last8=Arnold|first8=P.|last9=Lauströer|first9=J.|last10=Hutchinson|first10=J. R.|last11=Fischer|first11=M. S.|last12=Ijspeert|first12=A. J.|title=Reverse-engineering the locomotion of a stem amniote|journal=Nature|volume=565|issue=7739|pages=351–355|date=16 January 2019|doi=10.1038/s41586-018-0851-2|pmid=30651613|s2cid=58014495|url=https://researchonline.rvc.ac.uk/id/eprint/11894/1/11894.pdf|eissn=1476-4687}}</ref>
The biomechanical data of the locomotion of the extant tetrapods and the digital models of ''Orobates''' holotype and fossilized trackways were then used to create a dynamic simulation. It allowed the researchers to account for physical factors like gravity, friction, and balance. The simulation was then validated under real-world conditions with a life-sized robot called OroBOT. The researchers tested 512 different gaits and found that ''Orobates'' moved most like a caiman. It had a relatively erect posture and walked with a slight side-to-side motion.<ref name="Nature"/><ref>{{cite journal|last=Baker|first=N.|title=Watch: Robot reveals how ancient reptile ancestor moved|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00186-x|journal=Nature|date=16 January 2019|access-date=18 January 2019|doi=10.1038/d41586-019-00186-x|pmid=30657749|s2cid=58579101 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="RoboFossil">{{cite web|last=Wong|first=K.|title=RoboFossil Reveals Locomotion of Beast from Deep Time|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/robofossil-reveals-locomotion-of-beast-from-deep-time/|work=Scientific American|date=17 January 2019|access-date=18 January 2019}}</ref> A follow-up study focused on the muscle strains occurring within the muscles of the hindlimb in modelled strides at different postures.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Zwafing|first1=M.|last2=Lautenschlager|first2=S.|last3=Demuth|first3=O. E.|last4=Nyakatura|first4=J. A.|date=2021|title=Modeling Sprawling Locomotion of the Stem Amniote Orobates: An Examination of Hindlimb Muscle Strains and Validation Using Extant Caiman|journal=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution|volume=9|language=English|doi=10.3389/fevo.2021.659039|issn=2296-701X|doi-access=free}}</ref> While results remained inconclusive towards favouring a single posture during locomotion, the overall results did not contradict the previous study based on OroBOT.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Portal|Paleontology}} {{Early tetrapods|A.}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q772545}}
Category:Diadectidae Category:Artinskian genera Category:Cisuralian tetrapods of Europe Category:Permian Germany Category:Fossils of Germany Category:Fossil taxa described in 2004