Re: So-called Sickle Claws

[dmorgan <dmorgan@exesolutions.com>]

NJPharris@aol.com wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 97-08-21 15:48:54 EDT, vonrex@gte.net (Peter Von Sholly)
> writes:
> 
> > Can you imagine an animal with three big
> >  toes walking on only two?  Ot jumping with their full body weight on big
> >  prey and hanging there on only two out of six toes?
> 
> If the inner toe is as short as it is in dromaeosaurids (due to reduction in
> length of both the metatarsal and the phalanges), then I have no trouble
> imagining this at all.  In fact, since metatarsal II is shorter than the
> outer two mets (which are subequal in length), it would have been
> *impossible* for the animal to put the base of digit II on the ground unless
> it was standing absolutely flat-footed.
> 
> How much support would it get from just the tip of a claw?
> 
> A modified ligament could easily hold digit II off the ground with no
> expenditure of muscular effort and no compromise to the effectiveness of the
> leg muscles.
> 
> NP


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Thanks,

Dan