Re: Life of Birds (was Re: Armadillos at the K/T!)

["Tim Williams" <tijawi@hotmail.com>]

Chris Fisher wrote:


> Many modern birds frequently flap their wings (forelimbs) to travel up
> tree-branches, with which they grasp with their feet (hindlimbs). Is this
> what you mean?


No; by "all four limbs" I meant the forelimbs and hindlimbs actually come in 
contact with the tree - trunk, branches, or twigs - in order to ascend.  The 
situation I think you are referring to is the fluttering hops used by many 
perching birds to travel from branch to branch.

Young hoatzins are inelegant climbers, but its clawed fingers and toes get 
the job done.  Small non-avian theropods had a lot more than hoatzin chicks 
to get themselves up trees, even without a pes specialized for grasping
branches.



Tim

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