Re: [Re: Origin of feathers]

["Matthew Troutman" <m_troutman@hotmail.com>]

<<On the aside, birds have short tails because they no longer needed 
them, as the tail no longer anchors the _femorocaudalis_ muscle. The 
tail is now redundant. Solution? Get rid of the tail. But I'm repeating 
what's been said on this list (and is in the Archives).>>

Actually,  its the M. caudofemoralis longus.  The evolution of a short 
tail is linked with the caudofemoralis and possibly the evolution of a 
pygostyle for the landing in flight and the evolution of the third 
locomotor module.  

Matt Troutman

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