Re: Rahonavis; sickle-claws

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

At 18:07 26-11-2001 -0600, Tim wrote:

> When it comes to the "sickle-claw", it's not just size but what you do 
> with it that counts.  The large size of _Deinonychus_'s second pedal 
> ungual, combined with its ability to execute a wide arc of movement, 
> suggest that it was wielded as a "slashing claw".  As such, the enlarged 
> sickle-claw was a specialized instrument designed for 
> predation.  (Although *maybe* the hyperextensible sickle-claw was 
> initially evolved as a climbing device, or was co-opted for such a purpose 
> later on... but that's another story.)

I consider that a possible explanation, although one should realize that it 
may simply have been part of the prey-grasping technique, in which case its 
modern analogue are the hyperextensible claws of felines. The latter 
function might be suggested by specimen GIN 100/25, the Velociraptor 
associated with Protoceratops.

http://web.inter.nl.net/users/G.Hanenburg/FightDinoA.jpg

Gerrit