Re: Feeding of Archaeopteyx

[ornstn@inforamp.net (Ronald Orenstein)]

>IDEA FLASH!  Could this be archy's niche: a scavenger role?  This could=
> explain the origin of flight in these animals; since a scavenger is going=
> to need to cover it's territory with relative efficiency, so flight evolves=
> so it can cover these long distances easily.  What do the dino-pros think? =
> Was archy designed for this type of role?
>
>Rob

I don't know - I still can't help thinking of Archie, along with Autolycus
in "The Winter's Tale", as a "snapper-up of unconsidered trifles" - an
opportunistic feeder that may  well have scavenged but seems unsuited as  a
scavenging specialist.  I still think a crow's lifestyle might be closer to
the mark.  As for flight - leaving aside predator avoidance, I certainly
expect that if Archie flew, flying may well have given it access to a wider
range of foods, both spatially and by type.
--
Ronald I. Orenstein                           Phone: (905) 820-7886 (home)
International Wildlife Coalition              Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116 (home)
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