Re: Great in the air, not so good underwater

[jrc <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "don ohmes" <d_ohmes@yahoo.com>
To: <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 2:51 PM
Subject: Re: Great in the air, not so good underwater


> One of the objections I have heard to the 'ground-up' scenario of flight 
> origin; it seems to require that flapping capability/behavior precede the 
> ability to generate lift. I say "seems" because it is possible to 
> construct other scenarios.

Indeed so....
> Even so, if the hatchetfish is flapping but truly getting _no_ benefit, 
> that may be more interesting from a flight origin perspective than the 
> popular image of a flying fish w/ limited flight ability.

I think so too.

> The key here may be what is really "significant" relative to lift 
> generation.

In the case of the hatchetfish, it would be appropriately phased pronation 
and suppination of the flapping stroke.  I doubt that it would take many 
mutations to accomplish that.  Average plunge axis would become important 
later.

JimC