Re: Feathers for T-rex?

["Ivan Kwan" <dino_rampage@hotmail.com>]

It has been noted that while ostriches have bare legs, the rest of the 
paleognaths like emus, cassowaries, rheas, kiwis, tinamous do not. And it 
has been stated that even though moas were larger than ostriches, they had 
feathered legs. Just something to speculate about: Is it possible that 
ostriches have bare legs due to the climate of their habitat (dry savanna, 
scrub, semi-desert) & use the bare skin on their legs to dissipate excess 
heat? That and the fact that possibly the leg muscles would generate plenty 
of heat when the ostrich is running, which it would have to do very often, 
whether it's chasing egg thieves, chasing a potential mate, running from 
predators etc. Therefore, the ostrich lost the feathers on its legs in order 
to get rid of all the excess heat generated both by its environment & by its 
highly active leg muscles.

Moas, on the ther hand, lived in a more temperate climate, with no predators 
aside from a giant eagle & possibly the odd flock of ravenous keas or two 
(anyone seen the New Zealand article in one of the recent issues of Nat 
Geo?). And maybe they needed their leg feathers to retain warmth on the 
occasional frosty night.

As for the elephant bird _Aepyornis_, who knows? Hot climate, but plenty of 
cover, and almost no need to run around that much. Anyone know of any large 
Madagascar predator capable of bringing down an _Aepyornis_ (besides a nile 
crocodile?)

But then again, it's all speculation. It is interesting to note that, 
besides the ostrich, all the other paleognaths from the Pleistocene and 
Holocene live in more covered habitats and that these have legs with more 
feathers than an ostrich's.

(Rheas? Interesting. They do live on the open treeless pampas. But the 
pampas does get pretty cold at night, as compared to african savannas.)

_________________________________________________________________
Send a fun phone greeting to your friend! 
http://www.msn.com.sg/mobile/fungreetings/