Re: Bird /dino questions -Reply

[James Norton <JNorton@MAILBOX.UNE.EDU>]

It's been my understanding that the forward shift in the center of gravity
in birds due to the loss of the mass of the tail was(is) compensated for
by a shift in the orientation of the leg bones.  The femur of a resting
(standing) bird is close to horizontal, bringing the knee closer to the
center of gravity.   The movement at the hip joint is reduced in favor of
more movement around the knee and more distal joints of the leg and
ankle, compared to a theropod, which would use the tail as a
counterbalance and would retain a greater range of motion around the
hip.

Is this a correct interpretation?

JM Norton

>>> "Matthew Troutman" <m_troutman@hotmail.com> 03/26/98 11:00am
>>>

    Actually, when a bird folds its wings, it is forced to stand near 
vertically. So it seems when a bird folds its wings the center of 
gravity shifts. This may be another explanation for wing folding.

MattTroutman


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