Re: Dem Bones

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

>I never did see an answer to this post. Is there a "reversal" of the 
>metatarsalian condition in archaeopteryx from its supposed dino 
>ancestors?

No.  _Archaeopteryx_ shows a fusion of the proximal metatarsals, like 
enantiornithines, but it could be an independent development as other 
basal birds such as _Rahonavis_ and _Unenelagia_ do not show such a 
fusion.  The tarsometatarsus of _Archaeopteryx_ seems to be very 
similiar to that of theropods.  

Matt Troutman


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