RE: Bambiraptor complete!

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

Dann Pigdon wrote:

>Yes, in the same way that hummingbird feathers impede the wing stroke
>and make the wings so darn slow. :)
>
> >"Williams, Tim" wrote:
> >
> >According to some authors, a forelimb with a row of long feathers
> >sprouting out of it could not have functioned in prey-grasping.  This
is
> >because (according to these sources - not me) the extra-long feathers
would
> >have created drag and impeded rapid predatory strikes by the forelimb
> >against prey.

The argument applies not to modern birds, which have feathers refined for
aerodynamic locomotion (including hovering in the case of hummingbirds), but
to the incipient stages of avian flight, when the feathers could not have
been specialized for generating lift.  Big, long feathers on the arms would
have made the arms very "draggy" when the hands were shooting out toward
prey - so runs the argument.

But I agree with your point.  The notion that aerodynamic wings (or
proto-wings) were incompatible with predation is difficult to take too
seriously.



Tim