Re: Claws on deinonychosaurs

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Michael Habib wrote:

> Since claw shape seems to be featuring in some of these posts, I would like 
> to mention that a straight claw would, in fact, be better for slashing than 
> a curved claw.
>
> This means the claws of deinonychosaurs remained curved through the 
> evolution of the lineage for one of two reasons:
>
> 1) Phylogenetic/developmental constraint (claws are ancestrally curved, 
> curve is maintained).
>
> 2) There was at least some importance to piercing/hooking; either in 
> addition to, or to the exclusion of, slashing cuts.

The troodontid _Borogovia_ has a claw that is straight, not curved.  So it 
would appear that the exact use of the claw varied among different 
deinonychosaur species.

Cheers

Tim