Re: Hone and Benton 2007 (their second paper)

[dinoboygraphics@aol.com]

> > > Secondly, and to get very hypothetical, let's say we had a bird with 
long legs, that can leap powerfully, but is incapable of a 
ground-to-air take-off. Let's also say that it's a rather poor flier 
that cannot fold its wings to the same extent as modern birds. The bird 
in question is something like, oh I dunno, _Archaeopteryx_. (I'm not 
saying that Archie was incapable of a ground-to-air take-off; but for 
the sake of argument I'll posit that it requires elevation in order to 
achieve flight speed). How do you think _Archaeopteryx_ would take off 
from a tree?<<<

Or, since it shows no arborreal adaptations, would it be more 
parsimonious to assume it didn't take off, period?



Scott Hartman
Science Director
Wyoming Dinosaur Center
110 Carter Ranch Rd.
Thermopolis, WY 82443
(800) 455-3466 ext. 230
Cell: (307) 921-8333

www.skeletaldrawing.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>
To: dinosaur@usc.edu
Sent: Thu, 31 May 2007 10:59 pm
Subject: Re: Hone and Benton 2007 (their second paper)


Michael Habib wrote:Â
Â
> Bounding passerines will often stay highly tucked for a moment, large 
>raptors usually start a flapping cycle right from the branch (they 
> generally elevate the wings as they launch or just after).Â
> Â
> As for tropicbirds and frigatebirds, they both have extremely reduced 
hind >limbs.Â
Â
First of all, thanks for a very helpful answer.Â
Â
Secondly, and to get very hypothetical, let's say we had a bird with 
long legs, that can leap powerfully, but is incapable of a 
ground-to-air take-off. Let's also say that it's a rather poor flier 
that cannot fold its wings to the same extent as modern birds. The bird 
in question is something like, oh I dunno, _Archaeopteryx_. (I'm not 
saying that Archie was incapable of a ground-to-air take-off; but for 
the sake of argument I'll posit that it requires elevation in order to 
achieve flight speed). How do you think _Archaeopteryx_ would take off 
from a tree?Â
Â
CheersÂ
Â
TimÂ
Â
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