Re: altricial nestling bone fossilization

[MICHAEL HABIB <habib@jhmi.edu>]

I'll reply with a question: are you considering mostly fully altricial species, 
or would semialtricial species like herons be included?  (this seems relevant 
largely because of body size issues).

--Mike Habib

----- Original Message -----
From: david peters <davidrpeters@earthlink.net>
Date: Monday, October 11, 2004 8:50 am
Subject: altricial nestling bone fossilization

> To my question, I recently received the following answer from a 
> noted bird expert at a major metropolitan museum (name withheld 
> 'cause why should I drag him/her into this?). 
> 
> Q: Are altricial nestling bird bones sufficiently ossified to 
> fossilize?
> A: At later stages they might be under favorable conditions.
> 
> Still waiting for an answer from my bat expert. Not sure what the 
> situation would be with dependent marsupial young. Any thoughts, 
> references or discussion along these lines would be appreciated.
> 
> David Peters
> St. Louis
>