*Koparion* [was "Troodontidae and All That Jazz"]

["Jaime A. Headden" <qilongia@yahoo.com>]

I wrote:

<<Taxonomy suggests that *Koparion,*>>

and Grant Harding wrote:

<So is it generally agreed now that _K._ is a
troodontid?  Or is this just your personal opinion?>

  I have no idea what is generally considered about
*Koparion* -- I've not talked to Chure on it, and
couldn't get to Currie about it at SVP'99, 'cause he
wasn't there. However, Chure (1996) and Currie et al.
(1990) suggest to me that the morphology of the tooth
falls within the morphological range possible for
troodonts, and exhibits nearly all autapomorphies for
troodont teeth, with the added bonus of some unique
features that would not allow rediagnosing to another
group, as far as I can see. Mononykid teeth, per Perle
et al. (1993, 1994) and in *Shuvuuia* possess
different morphology to suggest relationship, and in
*Pelecanimimus*, I have not been able to determine an
opinion. So the answers to your questions are 'maybe'
and 'yes'. As it is, based on stratigraphy and
morphology, it can be considered the earliest troodont
taxon. And if you think I'm giving you an ambiguous
answer, you'd better believe it. You can't really say
anything in paleo with too much certainty, unless its
functional morphology or geology, and I'm steering
towards the first.

<<*Sinornithosaurus*,>>

<_Sinornithosaurus_?  You mean _Sinornithoides_, no?
Not a criticism; just want to be sure I know what
you're talking about...>

  Certainly. My goof. All those 'saur+ornith' names
about now.

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