Re: Phytodinosauria status - digit loss.

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/7/01 4:07:56 PM EST, MarkEShelly@aol.com writes:

<< Digit loss, at least in digit 1 and 5, would appear to go with shortened 
 center fingers and flexing the ankle or wrist front to back, allowing a 
 vertical gait.  If you contract the muscles and tendons leading to the outer 
 fingers at the same time and these tendons are lower than the wrist/ ankle 
 joint centerline, you should get a front to back rotation, not side to side 
 (ancestral). >>

Yes, but digit 1 was >not< lost in theropods; digits 4 and 5 were. These 
would have been on the back side of the wing, where it needs to taper in 
order to generate lift. And center fingers were elongated in most theropods.