Re: Archaeopteryx not the first bird, is the earliest known (powered) flying dinosaur

[GSP1954@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/3/05 8:14:52 PM, dinoboygraphics@aol.com writes:

<< I would be careful about using the Thermopolis specimen as evidence for 
a splaying posture;  >>

So would I, I never claimed that any Archaeopteryx specimen favors a 
sprawling posture, quite the opposite. 

There is no Jehol dromaeosaur specimen, including Microraptor (I have the 
same paper), that has the medially elongated, cylinderical femoral head seen in 
standard theropods including Deinonychus. Draw the femoral heads in 
antero-posterior view and compare them side by side rather than using general 
impressions 
made from isolated photos. That the leg winged dromaeosaurs have modified 
femoral heads that in some ways resemble those of some pterosaurs suggests they 
had evolved a different function, later lost in most secondarily flightless 
examples. Which is why so many specimens are splayed out spread eagle style. 
The 
hip sockets and leg musculature would not have to be fully functional when 
splayed out in flying dromaeosaurs because they were not using them for walking 
or running (many joints are not in full articulation in animals when they are 
not bearing full loads). Evolution is a make do sort of system, there being so 
little intelligence involved. 

G Paul