Re: Gliders to Fliers? (Was Re: Ruben Strikes Back)

[Stanley Friesen <sarima@ix.netcom.com>]

At 11:35 PM 9/25/99 -0700, Matthew Bonnan wrote:
>This is where I would say we have to be careful.  As I mentioned, the 
>cylindrical femoral head and hinge-ankle of theropods would not lead me to 
>say "almost certainly" theropods are descendants of arboreal animals.  What 
>of bipedal ornithischians?  All of these forms are bipedal because of 
>arboreality as well?

My guess would be - yes.  I would start with a _Marasuchus_-like arboreal
or scansorial leaper, ecologically similar to indris.  Dinosurs would then
be in part secondarily terrestrial descendents of arboreal/scansorial forms.

--------------
May the peace of God be with you.         sarima@ix.netcom.com