RE: Claw function in Deinonychus

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Mike Habib wrote:

> I would caution against assuming a single function for the enlarged inner 
> claw in dromeosaurids and troodontids.  An enlarged claw on the hindlimb is 
> useful for a number of functions, including dispatching large prey, 
> pinning/dispatching smaller prey, and climbing sheer surfaces (ie trees).

The tree-climbing hypothesis is very interesting, and (as you suggest) it's 
the kind of thing that needs further study - like comparing the shape of the 
microraptoran sickle-claw to the claws of modern-trunk climbing birds.  
However, even this may not be so useful given that small deinonychosaurs 
probably had an entirely different strategy for climbing - all four limbs 
could be deployed to get up a tree (more like mammals or lizards), yet they 
had a bipedal bauplan (as in birds).

> Note that in the largest-bodied taxa, the claw seems to be larger 
> proportionately.

Hmmm.. are you sure?  I seem to recall that the sickle-claw of 
_Achillobator_ was proportionately quite small - compared to _Deinonychus_ 
anyway.

Jerzy Dyczkowski wrote:

> Just a fact - Protoceratops was on top, holding the poor Velociraptor arm. 
> So it is better evidence of predatory skill of ceratopsians than 
> deinonychosaurs.

I know you're kidding, but somebody (a former member of this list) actually 
suggested this!  He proposed that the _Protoceratops_ was defending its 
territory (or its eggs) against a roving _Velociraptor_.  In other words, 
the ceratopsian was the aggressor.  (Hello Tracy if you're out there!)

John Hunt wrote:

> As Bill Oddie, a well known bird lover and lesser known comedian was 
> hosting
> the programme, the turkeys were deceased.

I'll sleep better tonight knowing that.  Bill Oddie hosted, eh?  That makes 
sense... it does sound like a scene from the "Goodies".

Cheers

Tim