Re: vaulting pterosaur launch, questions

[ptnorton <ptnorton@suscom-maine.net>]

Scott Hartman wrote, in part:

> That presumes, of course, that Archaeopteryx got airborne for any 
> significant period of time at all.

What is a "significant period of time?"  The Wright brothers flew for 12 
seconds in 1903. Not very long, but pretty significant.

>it hasn't been properly established that
> Archaeopteryx flew, or if so, how, when, where, and why?

Apart from bringing one back to life somehow, exactly how do we "properly" 
establish that Archie flew?  The fossil evidence is entirely consistent with 
an animal that was most likely at least a rudimentary flapping flyer. How 
did it fly? By flapping its wings. When did it fly? About 150 ma, give or 
take a few. Where did it fly? At least in and around the area now know as 
Solnhofen, Germany. Why did it fly? Who the heck knows! You might as well 
ask why do we walk? Or why do fish swim?...

PTJN