tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4675540394850433221.post4395377528408123722..comments2024-03-24T00:30:26.338-07:00Comments on Waxing Paleontological: Nearly BirdsZachary Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05035947146927565746noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4675540394850433221.post-52491067521943915672018-02-04T18:27:56.141-08:002018-02-04T18:27:56.141-08:00Thanks, Tim! I really enjoyed researching it. 😊Thanks, Tim! I really enjoyed researching it. 😊Zachary Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05035947146927565746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4675540394850433221.post-24662514949317858562018-02-04T17:28:34.733-08:002018-02-04T17:28:34.733-08:00Great article BTW.Great article BTW.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17837037454015036429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4675540394850433221.post-24199545873721816412018-02-04T17:18:38.885-08:002018-02-04T17:18:38.885-08:00"The extreme feathering on the legs and feet ..."The extreme feathering on the legs and feet of several anchiornithids doesn't seem terribly useful in a terrestrial context."<br /><br />Not extremely useful in an arboreal context either, since said feathers would snag on branches (a point made by Dececchi & Larsson, 2011).<br /><br />Long hindlimb feathers were undoubtedly not advantageous for running. But these 'nearly-birds' might not had much need for cursoriality, even if (as seems likely) they were terrestrial. It is difficult for very small, long-limbed, cursorial animals to be too fast, because obstacles on the ground become relatively larger the smaller you get.<br /><br />"Rebecca Gelernter restores Anchiornis in a hypothetical branch-climbing pose, but would it have been able to do this in life?"<br /><br />No. ;-) (Well, I don't think so.) I love her artwork, but the arboreal restoration looks very 'forced' to me.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17837037454015036429noreply@blogger.com