Re: So-called sickle claws

["Thomas R. Holtz, Jr." <th81@umail.umd.edu>]

At 10:08 AM 10/2/97 -0700, Sholly wrote:
>The claws of cats are held up by tendons (ligaments?) and the claws rotate
>around the terminal toe bone, right?

Wrong.  The whole ungual (terminal phalanx) swivels.

>I mean, it's the claw that swivels,
>not the toe bone- I think.  Is that right?

No.

>And cats have pads under their
>toes for walking.  Although you probably meant "an analogue" as to shape
>and function only.

Yes.  And, of course, dromaeosaurid pedal digits III and IV were pretty
standard-model toes, so there would be no need for cat-style toe-pads.

Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Vertebrate Paleontologist     Webpage: http://www.geol.umd.edu
Dept. of Geology              Email:th81@umail.umd.edu
University of Maryland        Phone:301-405-4084
College Park, MD  20742       Fax:  301-314-9661