Re: AVIMIMUS

["Jaime Headden" <jaemei@hotmail.com>]

<It is becoming clear now that there are three basic types of 
arctometatarsaly:>

Let me refine this a little, Pete.

1) The first type is dorsal fusion, with mtIII adducted between II
   and IV (it is not actually "pinched") so this is not a true
   arctomet foot. An elmisaurid foot, basically. 

2) The arctomet foot, with mtIII "pinched" between mt's II and IV, not 
   reaching to proximal surface as in [1]. This is seen in
   tyrannosaurs and bullatosaurs, suggesting closer relationship than
   any other groups (tyrannos and ornithos and troodonts, excluding
   everything else).

3) The enantiornithine foot, with mt's II-IV fused along full length
   without pinching or adduction of mtIII.

4) Apparently, the alvarezsaurid foot may be a variation on types 1 or 
   3, or its own type, with mtIII adducted _and_ fused proximally and
   distally, mtIII appearing only in posterior and distal aspects,
   totally occluded from proximal and dorsal except at the plantar
   end.

<The feet refered to _Avimimus_ are clearly of the last type.  No other 
theropods have feet that aproach this condition so it is either 
indicative of a clse relationship between oviraptors and mononykines 
(unlikely as per discussion the past week or so),>

Hmmm. So I haven't been all that persuasive, eh?

<a case of tremendous convergence (unlikely),>

That's what I keep saying!

<or indicative of the fact that this is actually a chimera.

OTHER ELEMENTS

I don't know who owns the skeleton that goes between the head and the 
feet...The tibiae seem to bear some resemblance to _Oviraptor_, the 
pelvis could have come from an Oviraptorosaur, or even something like 
_Bagaraatan_.... Anyone want to give me a grant to fly to Moscow?>

Vertebrae are of "avian" type, also seen in dromies, oviraptorids, and 
mononykines (in your usage). Pelvis, yes, it is closer to an 
oviraptorosaur than any other pelvis, but the pubic boot is---well, I've 
yet to see a pubic boot for an oviraptorosaur, the ischium is very 
abbreviated and oblong, not shaped as in a dromie, ovi, or troodont 
ischium, and the ilium actually looks like *Alvarezsaurus'*.

<*I will refrain from refering to skulls as oviraptorid or 
oviraptorosaur because, even though Sues has added new data, it is still 
inclear what a caenignathid/elmisaurid skull looks like.>

Longer than an ovi's, lacking a mandibular fenestral prong. Other than 
that ... he, he, what I would give for a license to dig up the Oldman 
and Dinosaur Park. (Sitting on a *Chirostenotes* for sixty years ... 
that was a joke, I'm sure.)

Jaime A. Headden

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com