Re: Jurassic Park 4 Script Review

[Amtoine Grant <ajgrant@eastlink.ca>]

On Wednesday, August 18, 2004, at 05:17  PM, David Marjanovic wrote:

> > Still, claws specialized for penetration might have been useful in
> climbing.
>
> Claws specialized for cutting, though, probably pose a problem. If 
> used in
> trunk-climbing, they get worn; if used in climbing branches, there's a 
> risk
> of cutting the branch on which the beastie is standing!

Depending on how far the claw is extended. Ideally, the best way for 
this to work would be a short, concentrated extension with a quick 
snap-back. We solve the problem very effectively whenever we shoot a 
basketball. If we didn't release the ball at a certain time, it'd go 
under our intended trajectory. But of course, our wrist snaps back, 
remedying the problem. As for actually penetrating the branches, that'd 
depend on the circumference(or is that diameter) of the branch AND the 
bark's thickness, as well as the actual tip of the claw including it's 
keratinous sheath. As for cutting the branch on which it stands, that 
branch would have to be too thin or brittle to support the 'raptor' is 
standing.
I wonder, when extant birds of prey(falcons, owls, eagles, etc.) launch 
themselves from a branch, do they use their wings for assisted thrust 
right from the get-go? Or is the initial push solely "pedal power"?