RE: The Epidendrosaurus and aye-aye

[Richard W Travsky <rtravsky@uwyo.edu>]

On Sun, 6 Oct 2002, Daniel Bensen wrote:
> >>Plus, isn't only digit III abnormally long in _Epi._/_Scan._?  If this
> were a developmental thing, then it would be truly weird, with parts of
> the hand being out of sinc with the others.<<
> 
> Yeah, well, it may be developmental, but HP Marjanovic reminded me that
> having a third finger longer than the others is just weird no matter how
> you cut.  So there should be _some_ functional reason as to why that
> digit is long.  The only two I can think of are grub-grabbing and
> feather-support (although as HP Paul says, most dinosaurs supported the
> feather from digit two).   Hmmm---maybe some sort of insect-capturing
> device.  :)  Hmm, like they thought about Archaeopteryx?  :)

Grooming? Or perhaps something related to mating? (tickling is the only
thing I can think of there)

> [...]