Re: pteros have lift-off

[Mike Habib <habib@jhmi.edu>]

> > I think  we talked about this earlier and the need for a pole vault  
> > scenario
>
> I think you talked about the need for a pole vault scenario -- I  
> don't recall that anyone else sees it as a requirement.

Actually, this one is my fault: I mentioned the "vault" phase of the  
launch on several occasions, and likened the forelimb to a folding  
vaulting pole at least a couple of times.  Apparently there was some  
confusion as a result.

When I refer to "vaulting" in the context of quad launch, it simply  
means that the animal is pushing onto the forelimbs, pivoting over the  
manus to some degree, from a standing start.  The hindlimbs give a  
dual push to initiate this launch phase, but there isn't an aerial  
phase leap coming off the hindlimbs alone, nor is there a running start.

Which brings me back to the issue of running launches once again.   
Just to reiterate: running launch is, by and large, not associated  
with greater power, better launch speed, or a solution to larger size  
in living flyers.  It is a secondarily derived launch state in many  
living birds associated with taxa that utilize takeoffs from compliant  
surfaces (i.e. water).

Cheers,

--Mike


>

Michael Habib, M.S.
PhD. Candidate
Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
1830 E. Monument Street
Baltimore, MD 21205
(443) 280-0181
habib@jhmi.edu