Re: So Just How Much Could They Bend Their Tail?

[Gerrit Hanenburg <G.Hanenburg@inter.NL.net>]

> > Actually, the tail of Velociraptor appears to have been rather flexible, at
> > least in lateral direction, despite the elongated prezygapophyses. The tail
> > of specimen IGM 100/986 has been preserved in an S-shaped curve.
>
> does this necesarily mean it was flexible? The prezygapophyses were still 
> bone, wouldn't the tail simply be is S-shaped curve, and still be uncurvable?

The elongated prezygapophyses (and chevrons) were not co-ossified and so, 
apparently, were able to slide past each other, allowing for considerable 
movement between vertebrae. The horizontal sinusoidal shape in IGM 100/986 
and the upward curve in GIN 100/25 
(http://web.inter.nl.net/users/G.Hanenburg/DinoFight.jpg) show that the 
tail was not immovably fixed in either position.

Gerrit