Re: Ruffled feathers

[Jeffrey Martz <martz@holly.colostate.edu>]

Paul Davis wrote:

> from a pathetic statistical sample size) shows that Archaeopteryx and
> Compsognathus did not have body contour feathers.  Most people believe
> because Archae is a "bird" it must have had a feathered body.  

     I hate to sound stupid, but do body contour feathers serve a 
practical purpose in a flying animal, not just as thermoregulation for 
endotherms?  I guess I am thinking about the cooling effect of the fast 
passage of an animal through the air, and how it might be good to have 
insulation to keep from getting chilled.
     
LN Jeff
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