From: owner-DINOSAUR@usc.edu [mailto:owner-DINOSAUR@usc.edu]On
Behalf Of
Robert J. Schenck
Mr. Rey
"I
thought the Dial WAIR model was more widely
accepted and I definitively accept that model
much more than any of the others."
But the WAIR model is built upon two feathered
forelimgs, giving the organism a 'hold' to the
slopping/vertical running surfaces.
Is there are variation of WAIR that invovles the
leg feathers/leg wing?
Not as yet.
If WAIR is the activity
that most leads to flight in the evolution of
birds, it requires that the legs be powerfully
developed and devoted to running no?
Much as they are ancestrally, yes, yes it would. I.e., it requires
them to have theropod legs. Which they do.
Any
variations away from that, while still in the
"WAIR Stage" would be deleterious to the organism
no, it would interfere with WAIR no?
No. They wouldn't. I really wish people would get over this idea!!!
(Colleagues included!)
They would presumably interfere with the rapid flexion and
extension of the hindlimb much the way that the longer flight
feathers of
modern birds prevent the rapid opening and closure of wings: i.e.,
not at all!
Perhaps, of
course, hindlimbs with flight feathers evolved
after the "WAIR stage" of course.
Plus, you should probably hope that Mr. Longrich
is wrong no? YOu'll have to redo all those
fascinating paintings, adding wing-legs!
Oh, he's woking on that!!
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Senior Lecturer, Vertebrate Paleontology
Department of Geology Director, Earth, Life & Time Program
University of Maryland College Park Scholars
Mailing Address:
Building 237, Room 1117
College Park, MD 20742
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/eltsite
Phone: 301-405-4084 Email: tholtz@geol.umd.edu
Fax (Geol): 301-314-9661 Fax (CPS-ELT): 301-405-0796