RE: FUCHSIA and the Ostrom Symposium Volume

["Williams, Tim" <TiJaWi@agron.iastate.edu>]

David Marjanovic wrote:

>  DA comes to similar conclusions (ilium pretty small, claw
> curvature just on the terrestrial side, short, elevated hallux that was 
> reverted, but to an unknown degree, 

I agree that the hallux of _Archaeopteryx_ is elavated relative to modern
specialized perchers, such as passerines and coliforms.  Nevertheless, the
proportions and position of Archie's hallux are comparable to many modern
terrestrial birds that spend much of their time on the ground, yet can perch
in trees - like certain gallinaceous birds.  This ties in quite well with
Hopson's work on the third toe of modern and extinct birds, and how its
proportions change with arboreality vs terrestriality. 



Tim

------------------------------------------------------------ 




Timothy J. Williams, Ph.D. 

USDA-ARS Researcher 
Agronomy Hall 
Iowa State University 
Ames IA 50014 

Phone: 515 294 9233 
Fax:   515 294 9359