Re: Bambiraptor complete!

["Fam Jansma" <fam.jansma@worldonline.nl>]

Tracy wrote:

>I would agree with (a) and (c) as being possible functions of
>_Archaeopteryx_'s hands *alongside* their ancestral function in grasping
>prey.  (b) assumes that _Archaeopteryx_ was exclusively arboreal, and so I
>have a real problem with it.<<
>
>But it has those nice long, pointed claws...

Sure it does, if it wouldn't use it for predation, than it would be like
overkill. Some horny sheats have been found in that poorly preserved as well
as on A. bavarica which showed it had some big ass claws on it hands. And
with a great curve too! If this animal wasn't using them for something, they
wouldn't be as pointed as is shown in the specimens, they'd be blunt and at
least shorter. The same type of claws have been found in the specimen of
Boluochia and as numerous people say, they were "raptorial" and were there
for the purpose of snatching some animals, than I can't see any problem why
Archaeopteryx couldn't use them as well for the hunt.
>
>Ah, the things I know....the things that are coming...heh, heh, heh...

That's pretty mean, there was on OPUS dinosaur it was possibly able to dive
into the water, could this be one the things you know?
>
>I don't believe _Wellnhoferia grandis_ is a valid genus - just a large
>specimen of _A. lithographica_.  Elzanowski is of the opinion that multiple
>archaeopterygid species inhabited the Solnhofen.<<
>
>And why not? There are different types of gulls and terns in the same area.
>Also, not all the Solnhofen specimens come from the same beds.

Has there ever been a thorough investigation of the different specimens,
even on the isolated feather compared to the other more complete specimens?
What is the size of that feather by the way? More comparable to a wing or
tail-one?

Rutger Jansma