A caudal rib is a rib that occurs in the tail of a vertebrate. They are commonly present on the more anterior caudal vertebrae of reptiles. In many taxa, they are fused with the vertebrae.[1] In taxa where the caudal ribs are fused to the vertebrae, the terms "transverse process" and "caudal rib" are sometimes used interchangeably, but the caudal rib may form only part of the transverse process.[2]

Prominent caudal ribs on a vertebra of the theropod dinosaur Carnotaurus

References

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  1. ^ Romer, Alfred Sherwood (1956). Osteology of the Reptiles.
  2. ^ Gallina, Pablo Ariel; Otero, Alejandro (2009-04-30). "Anterior caudal transverse processes in sauropod dinosaurs: morphological, phylogenetic and functional aspects". Ameghiniana. 46 (1): 165–176. ISSN 0002-7014.