Re: Feather Flap

[David Marjanovic <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Williams" <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 2:20 AM

> I'm not sure this holds for the first gliding theropods, who may have
> evolved gliding ability as means of getting from trees to the ground.

That would be parachuting, not gliding, which has to some extent opposite 
aerodynamic requirements.

> but I don't see any reason to assume that you have to be specialized
> for arboreality in order to be an effective glider.

No, but if you're not already arboreal, what point is there in gliding?

> This is not true for all arboreal gliders.  Some gliding amphibians have 
> flaps on the distal limbs, such as "flying frogs" (_Rhacophorus_ spp.) 
> which have huge webbed feet for gliding.

Parachuting.

> The "flying geckoes" (_Ptychozoon_ spp.)
> have gliding surfaces on the abdomen and feet that are not confluent.

Parachuting again.