Re: Great in the air, not so good underwater

[Michael Habib <mhabib5@jhmi.edu>]

On Friday, December 8, 2006, at 12:44 PM, jrc wrote:

> As I said, they're not good at it -- but flapping while flying (or 
> ballistic leaping with relatively large 'wings') is clearly compatible 
> with an evolutionary path towards improved flight performance.  The 
> eventually problem with that path is of course that they are not 
> presently equipped to remain aerobicly powered during extended flight. 
>  Wanna bet that they won't solve it in a few million years (if they 
> survive) ?

Oh, I agree that it is compatible with an evolutionary path towards 
improved flight; I'm merely saying that they probably aren't actually 
powered flyers, and hatchetfish might not even be gliders.  The 
enlarged pectoral fins might be utilized for some other function.

Cheers,

--Mike