RE: Epidendrosaurus: tree-climbing theropod from China

[MariusRomanus@aol.com]

>One possible explanation for the elongated third manual digit is that it is 
>adapted to a specific niche as in the Malagasy primate Aye-Aye (Daubentonia 
>madagascariensis), which uses its long middle finger as a tool for finding 
>insects in trees.<

I don't know about this Aye-Aye stuff..... The hunting behavior of the Aye-Aye, 
as far as I understand it, is a bit more sophisticated than just fishing in 
holes in the bark of trees for insects with an elongated finger. Could 
_Epidendrosaurus_ have been doing something similar?.... Sure, I guess so.... 
But I tend to think it wasn't going about it in the same manner as the Aye-Aye. 
So, I'm not sure how much the authors are insinuating when it comes to 
behavioral similarities. The Aye-Aye truly is, a unique little weirdo.  The 
Aye-Aye first starts rhythmically drumming on a tree with his fingers..... tap 
tap tap tap..... Then, with the unbelievable sense of hearing that the animal 
possesses, it listens for grubs deep within the bark who were agitated by the 
drumming. Once the Aye-Aye has located some, it tears into the bark with its 
monster, beaver-like incisors, just a little ways ahead of the direction that 
the grub is moving.... Then it sticks its modified, twig-like finge!
r !
into the hole that it made, which broke into the grub's tunnel, and it rakes 
the grub out.

I haven't seen pictures of the theropod yet, so I have no idea what this 
elongated digit even looks like...... As in, is it like the freaky looking 
twig-like finger of the Aye-Aye, or is it just a regular digit, but just 
abnormally longer than the others? That little detail would make a really big 
difference..... This says nothing about having the ability to bite into trees 
as if they were butter, or being able to hear grubs moving deep inside of a 
tree to begin with.

I'm sure I'm reading way more into this than I should be..... It's late.... I 
have an exam tomorrow.... I just felt like babbling...

Kris