Re: Maniraptor arms?

[Michael Habib <mhabib5@jhmi.edu>]

> just a thought  --  would there be any difference in the sockets, to 
> tell the difference between alternating and paired limb movement?  ie,
> * right rear leg & left fore leg....left rear leg & right fore 
> leg...repeat
>
> * right rear leg & right fore leg....left rear leg & left fore 
> leg....repeat
>
> *right fore leg & left fore leg....left rear leg & right rear 
> leg...repeat

There could be signals there, but we probably shouldn't get our hopes 
up to high: joint structure probably has more to do with support and 
range of motion than it does motion timing.  Thus, the same joint 
surfaces could probably lead to all of the kinematics you described 
above, depending on when the limbs moved.  If synchronous and 
asynchronous limb kinematics differ in their ranges of motion, or 
direction of motion, then the joint surfaces might carry a kinematic 
signal.  Otherwise, I find it doubtful.

Cheers,

--Mike H.