Re: Gliders to Fliers?

[NJPharris@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/25/99 1:20:29 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
rayancog@pacific.net.ph writes:

>  >[from Matt Bonnan] Am I missing something: are there 
>  >gliders which do not use both limbs with a sheet in between?
>  
>  Well, we have the modern-day flying lizards (_Draco_) of SE Asia, with
>  patagia stretched on elonaged ribs, w/o using the limbs; the superficially
>  similar weigeltisaurs (though a paper says the supporting bines weren't
>  ribs attached to the vertebrae) of the Late Permian; the kuehneosaurs of
>  the Late Triassic; and modern-day gliding geckos (or more appropriately,
>  parachuting geckos), with modest, boneless skin flaps at their flanks.

And let's not forget the fascinating little _Coelurosauravus_, which 
supported its gliding membrane on bony rods radiating from the shoulder 
region--the closest thing in nature, I should think, to the classical, winged 
dragon.

--Nick P.