Re: LONGISQUAMA FURCULA

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/21/00 4:31:03 AM EST, darren.naish@port.ac.uk writes:

<< George asked what the 'furcula' of _Longisquama_ could be if it isn't a 
 furcula. Here's an (admittedly far fetched) idea: could it be a cloacal 
 bone? Certain geckos have U-shaped cloacal bones located either side 
 of their vent - the exact function of the bones (AFAIK) is unknown but 
 they presumably help in hemipenial erection. >>

One might wonder how the cloacal bone managed to migrate up on top of the 
anterior rib cage and thereby became the only bone of the pelvic region to be 
preserved in the specimen. The entire rest of the skeleton of Longisquama 
behind the dorsal series is lost.