Re: Nanotyrannus

[pharrinj@PLU.edu]

On Mon, 8 Jan 1996, Adam Yates wrote:

> 
> 
> On Mon, 8 Jan 1996 GSP1954@aol.com wrote:
> 
> > The "Nanotyrannus" skull is definitely crushed and distorted, and is 
> > probably
> > a baby T. rex.
> > 
> > GSPaul
> > 
> So what about the advanced state of fusion between the bones of the 
> skull? Is this just an artefact resulting from the sutures being 
> plastered over by the restorer?
> 
> 
> Adam Yates
> 

Paul makes a similar (and similarly unconvincing) case in _Predatory 
Dinosaurs of the World_.  He says the back of the skull is crushed from 
top to bottom, while the front is crushed from side to side.  Neat trick!

In the pictures from the _Discover_ article, the skull looks nicely 
symmetrical and quite 3-dimensional.  Also, the dentaries look like they 
articulated (maybe even fused) at about midlength, indicating that the 
beak really was very narrow.

     Nick Pharris
     Pacific Lutheran University
     Tacoma, WA