Re: bauplan convergence

[Stanley Friesen <sarima@friesen.net>]

At 11:18 PM 6/16/00 -0700, Rob Gay wrote:
> The main problem I have with avian flight originating in trees, is that I 
> can't see a good reason for animals to be leaping from them, unless they 
> had a sort of death wish.

Why do ordinary squirrels, ordinary lemurs, monkeys, lizards and snakes 
leap from trees?

Whatever the reason, it is sufficiently compelling that many, if not most, 
arboreal and scansorial animals do it.  Ergo, it is likely that any extinct 
arboreal/scansorial animal would do so as well.

> flying cat. As far as I can tell, most cats climb down out of the trees 
> instead of taking a 20 foot vertical drop.
> Peace,

Actually, cats are notorious for their "death-defying" leaps.  TRemember, 
they are said to always land on their feet.

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