Re: Caudofemoralis and theropod limb proportions

["Jonathan R. Wagner" <znc14@ttacs1.ttu.edu>]

Stephen Gatesy wrote:
>I think that a much stronger constraint is limiting femur length in birds.
>The lower limb elements are where proportions are freer to evolve.  If
>birds are selected for long legs (including long running legs), the
>tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus elongate, whereas the femur remains more in
>size with the body.  The result is an ostrich or flamingo or stilt that has
>a tiny femur relative to the tarsometatarsus.
        How well established is this? I know that the femur is commonly used
as an indicator of body size, but I've always wondered how reliable this is.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Jonathan R. Wagner, Dept. of Geosciences, TTU, Lubbock TX 79409
                    "They Airbrushed My Face" - REM