Re: Arctometatarsalian

[pwillis@ozemail.com.au (Paul Willis)]

[I've already rejected a couple of messages for having too much
 included text.  This one I thought was borderline.  If you have a
 strong opinion about my choosing to accept it, feel free to state
 said opinion. -- MR]


>The arctometatarsalian condition is the pinched third metatarsal condition
>seen in tyrannosaurids, ornithomimids, troodontids,
>elmisaurids/caenagnathids, Avimimus, and Mononykus (but NOT in
                                                     ^^^^^^^^^^
>Archaeopteryx, ornithurine or enantiornithine birds, etc.).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

<snip>
>
>In the various phylogenies I've cooked up, true Arctometatarsalia (including
>at least Tyrannosauridae, Troodontidae, and Ornithomimosauria) is less
>closely related to birds than are Archaeopteryx or the Dromaeosauridae.  In
>my most recent studies, oviraptorosaurs and therizinosauroids were also
>closer to birds than are the arctomets.
>

This must mean that the Arctometatarsalian condition was reversed in
Archaeopteryx, ornithurine and enatiornithine birds then reversed again in
more advanced birds. Or have I got something anus pro tops?

Cheers, Paul

pwillis@ozemail.com.au