Re: Deinonychus: kangaroo?

[NJPharris@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-06-10 12:45:51 EDT, dwlewis@rmii.com (Douglas W. Lewis)
writes:

> did Deinonychus (and maybe Utahraptor and the rest of the Dromeosaur
family)
> balance on their tails and spar with each other by kicking with their 
> claws?

I doubt it.  The tail was so stiff that only the very tip would be on the
ground, which would not provide much support.  The other alternative would be
to lay the whole tail on the ground, bending it at the flexible base.  This
would leave the poor dromaeosaurs sitting right on their butts--an amusing,
and unlikely, image.

Nick Pharris