Re: Heterodontosaurus

["Sherry Michael" <_smichael@excite.com>]

On Sat, 18 Sep 1999 19:58:35 -0700, dbensen wrote:

> Okay, you've asked for questions and now you're going to get >them.  It's
taken me a day to get the backround on this genus >and now I've got it.

It's a quiz! I'm doing this from memory. :)


> 2) What's this I hear about Heterodontosaurus being a prosauropod?

This was proposed by Bakker and Galton, I think. There is also some question
on Bakker and Galton's reconstruction. Anyway, all was based on the twisted
condition of (is it metacarpal I?). This is also a trait of prosauropods.
However, taken in context with the other evidence in hand (ha ha)
Heterodontosaurids are not prosauropods. I'd guess any similar traits could
be due to the basal nature of these groups, or parallel evolution.
Heterodontosaurus even has some stego (verts, tibotarsal fusion) and
theropod (femur) traits!  

> 4) Omnivory is the eccpeted diet of Heterodontosaurus, what sort of tubers
and
> insects did it share its habitat with? 

I don't know about insects. Tubers maybe?

> 6) I've heard Heterodontosaurus being compared to peccaries, is this a
good
> comparison?

They have been compared to artiodactyls and other suids. I guess because
they are herbivores with nice fangs. Any behavior similarities is anyone's
guess. 

-Sherry Michael




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