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Die Orientierung der Fingerkrallen der Vögel

The orientation of digital claws in birds

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Abstract

As a result of pronation of the forelimb in the spread wing the peaks of the digital claws are orientated backwards. The 6th (Solnhofen) specimen ofArchaeopteryx demonstrates that its digital claws were orientated in the same way. Given is an interpretation of the position of the claws of Berlin and Eichstätt specimen. Shown are the consequences for theories of origin of birds' flight, functions of the digital claws and other problems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität, Invaliden-Straße 43, D-10115, Berlin

    Burkhard Stephen

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  1. Burkhard Stephen
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Stephen, B. Die Orientierung der Fingerkrallen der Vögel. J Ornithol 135, 1–16 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640272

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640272

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