Re: Rhamphorhynchus Perching???

[Betty Cunningham <bettyc@flyinggoat.com>]

other non-avian perching animals are tree kangaroos, lemurs, gibbons,
siamangs, sloths, snails, 8 year old humans, housecats, and the
occasional goat.

(from: http://www.yourdictionary.com/ )
Pronunciation: 'p&rch
Main Entry: 2perch
Function: verb
Date: 14th century
intransitive senses : to alight, settle, or rest on a perch, a height,
or a precarious spot
transitive senses : to place on a perch, a height, or a precarious spot

-Betty

Ronald Orenstein wrote:
> It is, I am afraid, a misconception that a reversed opposable hallux and
> locking tendon mechanism are necessary for perching.  The locking mechanism
> in particular is a feature of the Passeriformes or "perching birds", and
> non-passerines like parrots and hawks have strongly opposable grasping
> toes, but there are a good many birds that perch in trees quite
> successfully without relying on either feature.  Examples are whistling (or
> tree) ducks, cormorants, and herons.  The lack of these features in
> pterosaurs is therefore not conclusive.

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