How would it change?

[TransformerRobot]

This is a scenario I've been wondering about related to a character I'm working on.

 

She is from a civilization of anthropomorphic creatures with similar properties to dromaeosauridea (Velociraptor, Utahraptor, and Deinonychus just to name a few).

 

Their native environment is essentially the same as the thick jungles in Africa, South America, and South East Asia. They mostly live in tree houses.

 

With those factors in mind, what would need to change in their body structure for them to work? EX: Their head shape, would it stay the same? Or would the nasal bones be narrower to give the eyes better capabilities?

[Greg H.]

What do you expect them to be able to do? Once you answer that question, you may see where the necessary changes lie.

[TransformerRobot]

Would they see better if their eyes were angled more forward?

 

I thought that to evolve into an anthropomorphic form they'd need to see forward instead of into two different directions all the time (That's how these dinosaurs would have seen, isn't it?).

[Greg H.]

Would they see better if their eyes were angled more forward?

 

I thought that to evolve into an anthropomorphic form they'd need to see forward instead of into two different directions all the time (That's how these dinosaurs would have seen, isn't it?).

I doubt it, otherwise a horse would be completely blind with blinders on. Although they might have a significant blind spot directly in front of them, dpending on their field of vision.

 

All that would really change is their total field of vision, the size of any blind spots they may have, and whether they were using binocular vision or monocular vision at any given time.

 

To give you an example, here's a decent page about how horses see. You can also look at the comparison between cats and dogs to see how eye placement in the face affects which eye sees what. Cats actually have a wider field of vision and a wider field of binocular vision than both humans and dogs.

 

http://horsehints.org/HorseVision.htm

Edited December 11, 2014 by Greg H.

[TransformerRobot]

But if a member of the species in my concept had the same vision as velociraptor or deinonychus, would they still be able to run forward?

[Greg H.]

Why wouldn't they?

Studies done by the UCMP at Berkley have shown that

The fastest speeds evident from dinosaur tracks (a medium-sized theropod in this case) are about 12 meters per second (about 27 mph); a little faster than the best Olympic sprinters.

It's not the car beating speeds of Jarassic Park, but they're certainly not feeling their way along like a blind man.

[TransformerRobot]

It's because their eyes were each angled off more to the side, instead of aimed right out front like our eyes. I have trouble imagining being able to see well enough with my eyes angled more to the sides.

[MigL]

As a person who sees with only one eye ( lost vision in left due to early PDS glaucoma ), I can still walk, run and drive. But if you toss me a baseball there's no way I'll catch it. You need binocular vision for depth perception.

If these Raptor relatives are swinging or jumping through trees, I don't think many will survive to pass on their genes.

 

They may also need larger forelimbs to support their weight, as its hard to climb with only your legs.

Their balancing tail would then no longer be needed and may prove an obstruction to motion also.

Finally, assuming they can hunt from above, would they need big claws and jaws, as they would have the element of surprise in any encounter.

[TransformerRobot]

Well here's what I had so far design-wise:

 

[MigL]

I don't get the boobs.

They are a mammalian trait.

 

Or is that a personal obsession.

[TransformerRobot]

Those are just so people know it's a female.