Re: SEGNOSAUR 2

[Dinogeorge <Dinogeorge@aol.com>]

In a message dated 98-04-11 03:10:01 EDT, martz@holly.ColoState.EDU writes:

<< 1) big pneumatic basisphenoid (also in oviraptids?) >>

How long does it take to squelch this nonsense??

Segnosaurs have the big, pneumatic basisphenoid. Bullatosaurus have the big,
swollen PARAsphenoid. They're different bones, but sometimes fused into a
single unit, a "parabasisphenoid," that extends along the bottom of the
braincase. The PARA is at the front of the braincase, with swelling beneath
the cultriform process, the BASI is at the back of the braincase, below the
occipital condyle.

Oviraptorids show no swelling in either location; they're certainly not
bullatosaurs.

The pneumaticized basisphenoid is a segnosaur autapomorphy.