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Re: T.Rex Feather Skepticism
At 11:48 PM 9/15/2005, Michael Habib wrote:
Incidentally, in regards to the previous point about deriving
precociality from altricial lineages: I cannot think of any
instances of a truly 'altricial' lineage leading to one labeled as
'precocial'.
I wonder if ducks might show something approaching this - the
sister-species to all other ducks, the Australian Magpie Goose
(Anseranas semipalmata), and the screamers (Anhimidae), which are
ducks' closest living relatives, feed their young after hatching, a
habit known otherwise only in the Australian Musk Duck (Biziura
lobata). That doesn't make their young altricial, I admit, but it
does imply a greater degree of dependance. Young screamers spend
much of their time in the water, apparently because they have yet to
develop the ability of running and hiding in the reeds.
Ronald Orenstein
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