a theory regarding maniraptoran origins

[Anthony Docimo <keenir@hotmail.com>]

Not being up on the latest findings about dinosaurs, I realize this may 
strike many of you as utterly idiotic....but I thought to share a theory:


Recently, I was forcing the evolution of some rats (that I made into 
gliders; long story), and realized something that, basically, it hit me how 
it could apply to the maniraptors.

Nowadays, many gliding species  (at least of mammals)  go horizontal while 
gliding....but when they are about to land on the next tree trunk, they arch 
their bodies so their hind legs hit the tree first.

With the hypothetical rats, it was a short step from such gliding, to 
gliding rats that developed hind-claws  --  just like the maniraptors.

thoughts?


If you want the full story of how that theory came to be, just check out 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/philosphica-dixonia/