Re: semilunate carpal

["" <ptnorton@msn.com>]

> And, to repeat Dan Varner's point regarding _Velociraptor_ vs 
> _Protoceratops_ - it obviously worked.  The semilunate carpal was put to 
> lively (or deadly) use by these predators.<

Many people, including me, have characterized the V as "grasping" the Proto 
in that specimen.....and maybe it was. I have, however, seen the specimen 
since I said that and it now seems to me that based on its position the left 
hand could have just as easily been being used to push the Proto away.  The 
conclusion that it was "grasping" is certainly reasonable, but not 
incontrovertible.  The right hand, of course, is being held in the mouth of 
the Proto, so that isn't evidence of grasping ability one way or the other.

PTN


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