Orobates is an extinct genus of diadectid that lived during the Early Permian. Its fossil remains were found in Germany.
Locomotion
The trace fossil species Ichniotherium sphaerodactylum, from Bromacker in Germany, has been attributed to Orobates.
A detailed multidisciplinary study published in 2019 found that Orobates moved more like modern than salamanders. The study began with the digitization of its Holotype using CT scanning to figure out the range of motion of its . A digital model of its fossil trackways helped narrow down the possibilities. The researchers also studied the locomotion of four Neontology sprawling using X-ray motion analysis. The extant tetrapods chosen for the study were , blue-tongued skinks, , and spectacled caimans.
The Biomechanics 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 and found that Orobates moved most like a caiman. It had a relatively erect posture and walked with a slight side-to-side motion.
