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Generic Alulonychid Wing by ~dracontes:icondracontes:

Categories Fan Art > Digital Art > Drawings > Miscellaneous

©2008-2010 ~dracontes
:icondracontes:

Artist's Comments

May this be a warning to all I show interest in doing something based on their work: you're going to wait a fair bit.

Here's the conversation that produced the first sketch. Basically I was intrigued by =avancna's concept of a "bird" with fingers in such a position: it even threw me for a loop.
After basing the sketch on some references I searched on the Internet I professed some interest in making a finished skeletal diagram. This was 8 months ago give or take a week :P All I can say is that I felt some of the pressure off and decided to tackle some unfinished work.

For the finished drawing I decided that drawing the whole wing limb would be interesting to do if only for me to brush up on avian limb anatomy. Of course the point of interest is the multiple thumb claws on the alula of which any detailed explanation I will defer to =avancna . On the left you have a dorsal view of the wing and on the right the distal aspect of it.

Wacom on Photoshop 7.0, resizing and *.jpeg conversion in PaintShop Pro 9.

Comments


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:iconsphenacodon:
~Sphenacodon Jun 23, 2008, 1:41:26 AM
Wait, so this is like the hoatzin, only more so?

--
For various biological musings and sundry notions, visit my blog, the quixotically-titled The World We Don't Live In.

Knowledge = Power = Energy = Matter = Mass
---- Terry Pratchett
:icondromornis:
~dromornis Jun 23, 2008, 4:25:36 AM
When I first saw it, I figured it would belong to some sort of flightless pterosaur XD

--
We have a time machine...

Speculative Evolution
:iconavancna:
=avancna Jun 23, 2008, 6:23:44 AM
The alulonychids are a family of either hoatzin-like, or raptor-like birds with three-taloned feet, and two finger-like "alula claws" on the wrist of each wing.

--
I just noticed something. You have super powers. That is so cool. Can you fly?

-Glorificus the Beast
:iconavancna:
=avancna Jun 23, 2008, 6:24:28 AM
Ostensibly, the alulonychids only have 2 alula claws, though, polydactylism does occur with some frequency.

--
I just noticed something. You have super powers. That is so cool. Can you fly?

-Glorificus the Beast
:iconavancna:
=avancna Jun 23, 2008, 6:24:51 AM
So far, I love it, with the exception of the third claw.

--
I just noticed something. You have super powers. That is so cool. Can you fly?

-Glorificus the Beast
:icondracontes:
~dracontes Jun 23, 2008, 6:51:44 AM
Thanks and thank you for the favourite :)

What of it?
That's the "original" alula. My resoning behind it was seeing many Earth birds have small spike-like claws on their alular thumbs, it should be that from an evo-devo point of view there's some sense that claw formation wouldn't be inhibited on the alula of the ancestral alulonychid. Either that or the signaling that helped form the fingers also had its influence of the alula. Of course while the fingers have their feathery stubble the alula is fully feathered.

At least that's what I figured. But it's your call.

A quick thought: Would you consider placing additional control surfaces on those fingers? It would perhaps help at least the predatory birds fly at low speeds and maneuver in tight spots. I doubt it would conflict with any preening function the fingers may have.

--
Interesting Deviants
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:iconavancna:
=avancna Jun 23, 2008, 7:55:19 AM
Oooh... Original alula

And what would you suggest to facilitate the extra control surfaces? At the moment, I'm wondering whether to have erectile quills on one edge of the fingers form an extended edge/surface when the fingers are held out for flight, or to simply have the fingers tuck into the wing and have extra feathers near the base of the fingers extend out to serve as makeshift alula feathers? On the other hand, I doubt that the herbivorous alulonychids would have such features, as leaf-eating birds tend to be poor fliers to begin with, and would be the primary reason why the family is divided into two subfamilies.

--
I just noticed something. You have super powers. That is so cool. Can you fly?

-Glorificus the Beast
:icondracontes:
~dracontes Jun 24, 2008, 12:08:02 AM
Oooh... Original alula

Not original in the sense that it's homologous to the structure in the common alulonychid ancestor; the whole multiple thumb complex is homologous the way I figure it. I meant it in the functional sense.
I'm not in the proper mindset to scry hints. Is there any thing you would like changed?

I'll sketch my ideas down as soon as possible but I think the second hypothesis is what I had in mind.
I dunno, a poor flier and generally a slow one would benefit from having additional control surfaces to avoid stalling and dropping from the sky as it were.
Do you mean to say herbivory developed several independent times in alulonychids or that there is really a profound split between canivores and herbivores in this family. I mean, you never know when you talk Linnaean ranks...

--
Interesting Deviants
Hear my chirping on Twitter!
:icondracontes:
~dracontes Jun 24, 2008, 5:02:25 AM
Thank you for the favourite, Emile :)

Yeah, what Stanton said though I wouldn't say the extra fingers are on the wrist of the wing :P

--
Interesting Deviants
Hear my chirping on Twitter!
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