Re: Feathers, Longisquama & Archaeopteryx (fwd)

[sean.kerns@sdrc.com (Snake)]

Forwarded message:
> In a recent letter to Nature, it was shown that the feathers of
> Archaeopteryx, while somewhat assymetrical (that is, there is more
> "feather" on one side of the shaft relative to the other), are not as
> assymetrical as those of modern flying birds.  Instead, the values for
> Archie fall within those of modern flightless birds.

Is this how the determination was made that Archaeopteryx was
a flightless bird? I mean, if it's extinct, how do you really 
know? I remember everything I used to see about Arch. said that
it was flightless; now I see a lot of depictions of it as a
flyer, or if not a flyer, at least a glider or hopper, rather
than being totally earthbound.

> 
>                               
> Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.                                 
> tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov
> Vertebrate Paleontologist in Exile                Phone:      703-648-5280
> U.S. Geological Survey                              FAX:      703-648-5420
> Branch of Paleontology & Stratigraphy
> MS 970 National Center
> Reston, VA  22092
> U.S.A.
> 
> 


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