RE: alvarezsaurid arms

["Tracy L. Ford" <dino.hunter@home.com>]

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-dinosaur@usc.edu [mailto:owner-dinosaur@usc.edu]On Behalf Of Ken
Kinman
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 12:29 AM
To: dinosaur@usc.edu
Subject: Re: alvarezsaurid arms

     I doubt that they would be dependent on termites.  I just assumed this
would be one of many things Patagonykus would be "digging for" (as well as
worms, grubs, tubers, eggs, etc.).  Those claws might have also been good
for breaking open rotting trees and logs, even in pursuit of hiding
symmetrodonts or other small vertebrates.  I bet they had fairly eclectic
tastes. <<

The main problem with digging would be in which way did the arms move? I'm
sure many of you dug holes when you were young and dug toward you to cover
your legs, this wouldn't work well for a digging animal, they would have to
dig away from the body. Does the anatomy support the arms digging way or
toward the body?

Tracy L. Ford
P. O. Box 1171
Poway Ca  92074