Re: On the Issue of Sprawling Dromaeosaurs

[Eric Martichuski <herewiss13@hotmail.com>]

> From: Ralph Miller
> And this is one reason why I would expect the lengthy hindlimb wing 
> feathers of little basal dromaeosaurs to serve some function in aerial 
> activity, even if we don't understand precisely how the hindlimbs would 
> come into play.

I've very little to offer to this debate, but looking at all the arguments 
from a layman's perspective, I wonder if this image might not be somewhat 
analogous to how the feathers could be incorporated into a useful areofoil 
without an extreme flattening of the legs.

http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~marcsulf/nato/predator.gif

The Predator UAV has those two rudders(?) in back, oriented ventrally 
(making the whole thing look mildly upside down).  Our hypothetical 
flyer/glider could imitate that profile with minimal "sprawl", just letting 
the legs dangle, possibly even pulled apart solely by the air rushing 
between them (to forestall the need for muscular adaptations, just a slight 
loosening of the joints.  Not even as drastic as the wren.)

The exact usefulness of the position, I cannot say, but the parallel images 
still make for an interesting analogy.

::throws 2 cents in::

Eric


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"There is no other wisdom,
And no other hope for us
But that we grow wise. -- Diane Duane
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