Re: Big birds on Paleoworld

[ornstn@inforamp.net (Ronald Orenstein)]

>Don't kiwis retain wing claws (along with a carpometacarpus) as well?
>

Kiwi wings are tiny, only 4-5 cm. long, tipped with a claw.  My references
to hand do not describe which bones are present but if there is a claw I
don't see how the carpometacarpus could be absent.  The claw does not seem
to be used for anything that I could discover (unlike the claws on the feet
which are used in breaking out of the egg and form nice weapons afterwards;
the one time I got to hold one, on Little Barrier Island in New Zealand, I
was advised to keep a VERY firm grip on its legs!).
--
Ronald I. Orenstein                           Phone: (905) 820-7886 (home)
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