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A critical ligamentous mechanism in the evolution of avian flight

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  • David B. Baier

    (Brown University)

  • Stephen M. Gatesy

    (Brown University)

  • Farish A. Jenkins

    (Harvard University)

Abstract

Flight control The long-running debate on the evolution of flying birds from non-flying ancestors has tended to focus on different aspects of wing function in isolation. But now a combination of comparative anatomy, three-dimensional scanning and mechanical measurements has been used to identify an anatomical feature that may have been a key step in the evolution of true controlled flight. The acrocoracohumeral ligament is a ring of fibrous tissue that stabilizes the wing against downward dislocation, and as it is non-muscular, does so without effort. This ligament is either missing or poorly developed in extinct early birds such as Archaeopteryx, so they would have needed to use muscular effort to sustain steady flight.

Suggested Citation

  • David B. Baier & Stephen M. Gatesy & Farish A. Jenkins, 2007. "A critical ligamentous mechanism in the evolution of avian flight," Nature, Nature, vol. 445(7125), pages 307-310, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:445:y:2007:i:7125:d:10.1038_nature05435
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05435
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