Re: Bipedalism

[Ronald Orenstein <ornstn@inforamp.net>]

>I was thinking about this last night and had another idea.  Virtually all
extant arboreal animals are "forced quadrepeds" (for lack of a better term). 
Whether it is a sloth, an iguana, or a spider monkey, these critters have all
their limbs grasping the branches (tails included for the monkey).  This makes
a great deal of sense; every limb that has contact with the tree reduces the
animals chances of falling.  I wonder if bipedalism would be a detriment, and
possibly fatal, for an arboreal animal

A great many birds hopping around in trees at this very moment would be
surprised to hear this!  And not all of them use their wings to get around in
trees, either.

Besides, remember that even an obligate biped can use another part of its body
as an extra "hand" or support when climbing.  Woodpeckers and some other birds
use the tail as a strut; parrots use their beaks (and can even hang by the
beak
alone).

For that matter, though they have functional arms, gibbons are basically
bipeds
and a more arboreal creature don't swing.
--
Ronald I. Orenstein                           Phone: (905) 820-7886
International Wildlife Coalition              Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116
1825 Shady Creek Court                 
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 3W2          mailto:ornstn@inforamp.net