Re: Therizinosaurs

[NJPharris@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/24/99 11:06:19 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
dbensen@gotnet.net writes:

> So what about the therizinosaurs?  For a while, the word was that they
>  were highly derived oviraptors, but that family tree seems to have
>  become passé.  Now they are . . .what?  What _are_ therizinosaurs?

Well, they were never considered to be highly *derived* oviraptors, merely 
descended from a common *ancestor* with oviraptorosaurs.  Many workers still 
believe this to be the case, and if anything _Beipiaosaurus_ and Jim 
Kirkland's new Utah form (not yet formally named...) have helped to tie down 
this relationship even better.

Best,
Nick P.