Re: LARGE PTEROSAURS OF EARLY CRETACEOUS MARYLAND

["James R. Cunningham" <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

Ray Stanford wrote:

>  ............., yet I really wonder how much of an open mind Kevin
> Padian has, despite his recent cognitive progress regarding pterosaur
> terrestrial locomotion, considering his track record (pun intended) on
> tracks attributed to pterosaurs, over the past years.

I think Kevin has a very open mind, and he made a compelling argument for his
point of view at Toulouse.

>  I wonder whether
> there might be a conscious or unconscious tendency, now, to protect himself
> from past statements passionately made, attributing a non-pterosaurian
> origin to pteraichnid footprints?

I don't think so.

>  Or, do Padian's scientific qualifications
> and reputation suggest he is above such a human tendency?

I believe he is.

>     If any one of you could provide me with a copy of Padian's paper (if
> there is such a thing available at this point) delivered at the recent
> pterosaur conference in France, it would be adult-sauropod-track-size
> appreciated.

I'll send you one as soon as I can get my hands on it.  Only the abstracts are
available at the moment.

> .....  For example, the
> transfer effect (upon the motion of manus components) of angular momentum
> (resultant rebound) from the step-attendant arcing motion of the extremity
> of the very long, upward extending digit four 'wing finger' (plus its
> attached wing membrane) should probably be taken into account and analyzed,

This is something we discussed at Toulouse, but it hasn't been done yet, insofar
as I know.