Re: GIVING CERATOSAURS THE BOOT

[Thomas_R_HOLTZ@umail.umd.edu (th81)]

>> I've never heard of a ceratosaur with ANY pubic foot to speak of.
>>      Nick Pharris
>
>A pubic foot in _Ceratosaurus nasicornis_ was reported as an impression in the
>sediment surrounding the bone in the original description. Several skeletal
>reconstructions accordingly give _Ceratosaurus_ a boot, therefore. 

More recent (and, sadly, unpublished) specimens of Ceratosaurus show that
there is only a small, Carnotaurus-like boot on the pubis.

>
>Check out the '_Allosaurus_' figure in the Jacobs' 'Textbook' to see a rather

That's "Lucas", NOT "Jacobs".  Let's give credit (?!?) where credit is due!!

>poor attempt at changing the original reconstruction of _Ceratosaurus_ into
>something's it's not.
>

>What are the chances that the Ceratosauria is paraphyletic. I know that, as an
out-group to the Tetanurae, it's well supported in several recent
phylogenies, but
>Bakker, Britt and others see a grading between ceratosaurids and
megalosaurids.

Actually, the chances aren't too bad.  I would have know problem if
Neoceratosauria were found to be closer to Tetanurae than to Coelophysoidea.


Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Vertebrate Paleontologist
Dept. of Geology
University of Maryland
College Park, MD  20742
Email:Thomas_R_HOLTZ@umail.umd.edu (th81)
Fax: 301-314-9661
Phone:301-405-4084