Re: Homing Pigeons? Try Homing Crocodiles...

[Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au>]

Guy Leahy writes: 

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7015561.stm 
>
> Using phylogenetic bracketing, it would seem that
> homing instinct is deeply nested within archosaurs,
> since both birds and crocodiles exhibit this behavior.

Either that, or the reason crocs and birds survived is because they had this 
ability, while other archosaurs didn't. 

There's no reason to suspect that the homing abilities of birds and crocs 
are due to the same physiological adaptations - especially since it's now 
been shown that birds can see magnetic fields via adaptations in the eye 
itself (not something you'd expect in largely nocturnal crocs). Marine 
turtles also have phenominal homing abilities, yet I wouldn't suggest that 
they got them from the common ancestor of turtles and archosaurs. 

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Dann Pigdon
GIS / Archaeologist              geo cities.com/dannsdinosaurs
Melbourne, Australia             heretichides.soffiles.com
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