semilunate (was "Critique")

["Ken Kinman" <kinman@hotmail.com>]

Mickey Mortimer wrote:
      For instance, Hou et al. (1999) argue since the semilunate carpal only 
fuses to the second metacarpal, it must be derived from a single distal 
carpal.  This simply doesn't follow logic.  The semilunate still articulates 
with metacarpal I, so it's not reduced in size compared to Archaeopteryx and 
other coelurosaurs.  There is no evidence suggesting the semilunate of birds 
isn't formed from distal carpals I and II, unless you want them to seem less 
maniraptoran.
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Mickey,
     I've never studied the semilunate controversy in depth, so I'm just 
playing devil's advocate here.  Just wonder how you would respond to the 
following.
     A Feducciary (not on this list) says that he
"can turn around and ask what is the evidence that suggests the avian 
semilunate is formed by a fusion of distal carpals 1 and 2?  There isn't 
any.  And if I read Feduccia (1996:70) correctly, the avian semilunate is a 
single bone throughout the development of living birds; there is no evidence 
that it is formed by fusion of any two bones during development.  
Developmental biologist Richard Hinchliffe identifies the avian semilunate 
as distal carpal 3! (Ibid.)  Developmental biology, therefore, argues 
against the avian semilunate being the product of bone fusion."
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