Re: The Continuing Story of Gliders to Dinosaurs

[Philidor11@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/25/99 5:30:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
mbonnan@hotmail.com writes:

<<  Loss of the big caudofemoralis longus muscle that pulls the thigh back in 
most dinosaurs would have forced  bird ancestors to use knee flexion and 
extension which would help reorient  the center of gravity over the feet.  As 
a result of this, suddently 
arboreal niches open up to once terrestrial animals. >>

If the disappearance of a muscle were creating significant difficulties, 
wouldn't the muscle stop disappearing?  Doesn't this imply that the bird 
ancestors had already found the flexion/extension alternative before the 
muscle disappeared?  Would flexion/extension be advantageous to a 
non-arboreal animal?
Thanks, Matt.