RE: Campbell's even crazier than a MANIAC? (archeopteryx climbing)

["Jaime A. Headden" <qilongia@yahoo.com>]

Eike wrote:

<I do not know any backtoeless (other toes may be co-opted instead of a lost 
hallux) perchers among living birds, and there are backtoeless species in 
abundance. There might be one or two, but I am not aware of any off the top of 
my head. Vertical-climbers, it's possible  but you need a different style of 
climbing and are not very mobile.>

  The foot of pelicans is pretty characteristic of a non-back-toe-pointing pes 
in an animal that can stand on branches and "perch". That toe cannot reverse, 
as in medially oriented..

  Cheers,

Jaime A. Headden
http://bitestuff.blogspot.com/

"Innocent, unbiased observation is a myth." --- P.B. Medawar (1969)