Re: No more paedomorphosis

[Stanley Friesen <sarima@ix.netcom.com>]

At 01:22 AM 4/16/98 EDT, Dinogeorge wrote:
>... Also, the position of the hallux
>in cursorial, flightless dromaeosaurids does not necessarily 
>reflect its position in arboreal, probably ornithopting and 
>perching (a la _Rahonavis_) dromaeosaurid ancestors. ...

I tend to think that perching per se is a rather late adaptation, only
arrived at *after* flight had developed.  Most scansorial and arboreal
animals I know of do NOT perch.  Even the "erect" posture so well known in
squirrels is not really perching, as it is mostly engaged in on branches
large enough to stand on in the normal way.

I suspect that perching evolved in a volant form for one or both of two
purposes:
        - prominent territorial display from an exposed spot,
        - ambush hunting (as in flycatchers and kingfishers).

--------------
May the peace of God be with you.         sarima@ix.netcom.com
                                          sfriesen@netlock.com