Hello! While looking at cat skeletons - I believe it was cheetahs - I chanced upon an article on the attachment of the shoulders/forelimbs in felines, and the unique rotational ability and flexibility of the forelimbs derived thereof. My interested was piqued, but I've since been frustrated by the lack of available information.
The article called this a 'floating shoulder,' and said, quote: "The cat’s shoulder is a feat of muscle, in that the forelimb is connected to the rest of the body only by muscle. Unlike our collarbone, which connects the shoulder and breastbone, the cat’s vestigial clavicle floats, anchored in place by muscle. The shoulder’s freedom of movement effectively lengthens the cat’s stride and enhances its range of motion." Here's the link, if anyone's interested: Click
Would this 'floating shoulder' still be possible with a more active clavicle that is more or fully connected to the skeleton? Would this 'floating shoulder' be an aid or hindrance in prolonged sprinting (think cheetah, but much faster and with far greater endurance), or any other specialized type of locomotion (arboreal, aquatic, mountainous, etc.)? Would the lack of an active clavicle affect the size and strength of any relevant muscles in either a negative or positive way? Would the total size and/or height and length of the animal in question - say, for kicks, ten to fifteen feet at the shoulder, with long proportions all around from head/neck (horse-like) to tail (lizard-esque) - have any impact on the effectiveness of this floating shoulder/clavicle setup? And, as a side note, would the complete lack of a clavicle in any form have any effect on the creature with this 'floating shoulder' setup, considering the apparent disuse of the clavicle anyway?
Gracias, and I look forward to any and all replies!
~Kelsie