Re: Feathered dinos

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/27/99 3:02:00 PM EST, NJPharris@aol.com writes:

<< I don't know if I should be the first to mention it, but it was suggested 
 numerous times at SVP that Archaeoraptor is itself a chimaera.  
Specifically, 
 the head looks (to me) dromaeosaurid or troodontid, the torso like that of a 
 bird, and the feet like a tiny avimimid or mononykine.  The tail looks like 
a 
 rather unnatural long, stiff rod. >>

Why is it that any fossil that doesn't fit the cladogram/theory of the day is 
called a chimera? Not to say Archaeoraptor is or isn't one, just that this 
particular excuse is getting a little overworked (Protoavis, Avimimus, 
Rahonavis, etc.).