Re: Proavis and Glenn Rose footprints

[pharrinj@PLU.edu]

On Fri, 12 Jan 1996, Klaus Richter wrote:

> Could it be an early bird - what means, that birds of today are
> no "dinosaurs" (Bakker) and Archaeopteryx is a sign for convergence
> evolution or could it be the first and not successfull try of the
> archosaurs to fly, and Archaeopteryx is clearly one of the first
> birds ?

Since we now have a good developmental series from _Archaeopteryx_ to 
modern birds, including _Sinornis_, _Iberomesornis_, _Ambiortus_, and the 
Odontornithes, in order of increasing "birdness", while we have NOTHING 
linking _Protoavis_ to modern birds, it looks unlikely that _Protoavis_ 
was a true bird.  It does, however, have some very birdlike features.

> What's the matter with these "human" footprints. Are they made by
> creatonists ? It's obvious that no humans existed in the mesocoic.
> 
> Thanks for any good information
> 
> Klaus Richter

Yes, it does look like a good number of the Mesozoic "human" footprints 
were instances where a theropod put its heel down on the ground and the 
toes pressed too lightly to make an impression.

     Nick Pharris
     Pacific Lutheran University
     Tacoma, WA, USA