Re: hopping theropods

[cnedin@geology.adelaide.edu.au (Chris Nedin)]

Hopping in kangaroos is an adaption to cover large amounts of territory in
flat, open ground. It's energy efficiency comes from continued hopping over
many kms rather than short bursts, and the presence of a horking <tm> great
ligament wrapped over the ankle which adsorbs some of the force of the down
stroke and releases it on the 'hop' like a spring. It is an adaption to
sustained travel over long periods. Some male roos have been known to cover
30 km per night (they generally sleep during the day) *every night* to er,
visit the females in its group. The advantages of hopping decline
dramatically in forested or jungle areas.

Chris

cnedin@geology.adelaide.edu.au,   nedin@ediacara.org
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Many say it was a mistake to come down from the trees, some say
the move out of the oceans was a bad idea. Me, I say the stiffening
of the notochord in the Cambrian was where it all went wrong,
it was all downhill from there.