Re: Life of Birds (vertical running)

["David Marjanovic" <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael de Sosa" <ofsosa@uclink4.berkeley.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 3:43 AM


> David M. wrote:
> >Does this mean grasping feet (at least a reversed hallux) are necessary
for
> >vertical running? If so, vertical running can only have arisen after
> >arboreality, I'd say. [...]
>
> No, Ken Dial demonstrated it with ground birds (quail or something). [...]
> Also, juvenile ground birds are capable of vertical running in this
> method despite their wings being to stubby to fly... also like theropods.

Cool! So I'll shut up and wait for the paper...
Just one question: How do they get back down again?

>         From what I understand, the wingstroke here is not exactly the
same as the
> one used in flying, but advanced non-avian theropods can make both
motions.
> So I suppose that still needs to be explained.

=8-)