The arboreal habits of Archaeopteryx

["Archaeopteryx ." <archaeopteryx@mail.com>]

Hello, I'm 16 and new to the list so please forgive my lack of any proper
terminology in this e-mail

There has been a debate over whether Archaeopteryx was a ground hunter
similar to the roadrunner of today or a tree dweller similar to the claw
bearing hoatzin chick. There is much evidence that feathers developed for
speed on the ground. But if that is so how did the opposed fourth digit of
the feet of the dinosaur-bird develop? Could it be possible that they came
about for pining and grasping prey insects on the ground as observed in
modern birds.

Or Could they have developed after Archaeopteryx had already taken to the
air, the necessity to grasp the branch being created by the need to escape
predators like compsognathus. In this way could Archaeopteryx have been both
aboreal and ground running?

Lauren Cole

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