Re: new

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

David Marjanovic wrote:

> > The hindlimb may have become dislocated after death,
>
> Not at all necessary. In the referred specimens of *Microraptor zhaoianus*,
> they were dislocated hardly to not at all. Instead, the ilia (the long
> plate-like hip bones) were broken; their upper parts are still vertical,
> while their lower parts along with the articulated legs are bent outwards.

Yes, but the splayed hindlimbs are still not in their natural position, on 
account of the broken ilia.  My point is that it is unwise to extrapolate 
the posture of live animals based solely on 'squished' fossil specimens.  
Before we start speculating too much on sprawling-legged theropods, we 
should first look closely at the morphologies of the femoral head and the 
acetabulum.  The posture of dead specimens might provide corroborating 
evidence, but not much else by themselves.

> And now imagine what you'd look like if you had been lying in a rock for 
> 125
> million years. :o)

:-)

If my skeleton was preserved with my feet over my head, would people assume 
I was a contortionist?



Tim

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