The tails of non-avialan dinosaurs varied considerably in terms of overall length, total number of vertebrae, and gross form and function. A new dataset confirms that there is little or no consistent relationship between tail length and snout-sacrum length. Consequently, attempts to estimate one from the other are likely to be very error-prone. Patterns of changes in centra lengths across the caudal series vary among non-avian dinosaurs. However, some overarching patterns do emerge. A number of taxa show (anterior to posterior) a series of short centra, followed by a series of longer centra, with the remainder of the tail consisting of a long series of centra tapering in length. This pattern is consistent with functional constraints, and the anterior series of longer centra are coincident with the major attachments of femoral musculature. This pattern is not present in many basal taxa and may have evolved independently in different dinosaurian groups, further suggesting functional importance.

中文翻译：

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非航空恐龙的尾巴长度和沿尾部序列变化的新数据

非航空恐龙的尾巴在总长度，椎骨总数以及总体形态和功能方面差异很大。一个新的数据集证实尾巴长度和口鼻-长度之间几乎没有一致性关系。因此，尝试从另一个中估计一个很容易出错。在非禽类恐龙中，整个尾鳍系列的中心长度变化模式各不相同。但是，确实出现了一些总体模式。一些分类单元显示（从前到后）一系列短的中心，随后是一系列的较长的中心，其余的尾巴由一系列长的逐渐变细的中心组成。这种模式与功能限制相一致，更长的前部系列与股骨肌肉组织的主要附件相吻合。