RE: Marsupial flight (ex forelimbs)

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Mike Keesey wrote:

> Incidentally, it kind of seems that marsupial pouches would be
> *better* for a flying guild than placentalian clinging. And there are
> several lineages of gliding marsupials--it does seem odd that none of
> them have developed flight. (Although, given the rarity of amniote
> flight, especially amniote flight derived from skin-gliding, maybe
> luck has something to do with it.)

I tend to agree.  I suspect that there's a large "right place, right time" 
factor when it comes to the evolution of powered flight.  Gliding evolved 
several times independently in Rodentia, but there are no volant rodents 
either.  

Cheers

Tim


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