poling and flying and bird refs

[David Peters <davidrpeters@earthlink.net>]

First, yes, the torso floats in the poling scenario.

Second, the poling scenario, if it works, works in both large and  
small pterosaurs. Lots of convergence in the cladogram regarding  
these shapes and sizes of pteros.

Third, it sure makes everything easier if the pterosaur never goes  
past knee deep waters. But those hands only tracks have to be  
accounted for somehow. Ideas welcome.

Fourth, poling marks are undertracks? Not likely considering the  
weight involved, mostly supported by water.

Fifth, I'm not sure how the air-filled skull would descend unless,  
perhaps, some allowance for some water to enter some chamber was  
made, in any pterosaur. Maybe that's where the multiple naris comes in.

Sixth, Q taking off from poling depth waters. Perhaps it never  
happened. Maybe there were better ways, which I listed earlier, of  
avoiding bad guyz. It's still worth throwing an idea out there, even  
if Jim thinks it's gutsy, and especially if there are animators  
around who have to make such scripts believable. We are in  
fantasyland much of the time with prehistoric animals. We've all seen  
worse ideas make it into the lit.

I still say, if you want to best make a yardstick go through water  
with minimum drag, place it edge on.

Still lots of questions about pteros. And thanks for the bird refs.  
All good.

David Peters
St. Louis