Re: Details on Tugulusaurus

["David Marjanovic" <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

 

the Iren Debasu therizinosaur

??? Never read of that one...

An important detail is that Dong states Tugulusaurus differs from other ornithomimids in that the proximal third metatarsal does not constrict.  Thus, the arctometatarsalian condition was probably absent.

snip

The possible lack of an arctometatarsus would be more basal than ornithomimosaurs except probably Harpymimus and "Ginnareemimus".

Usually, the word "arctometatarsalian" is used to describe a third metatarsal that is considerably constricted proximally and a bit expanded distally. It is not necessary that it doesn't reach the ankle. Since it does constrict in Harpymimus and "Ginereemimus" (is this the to-be-correct spelling? Someone stated that it is misspelled in the original and will be corrected, someone else wrote it like here), AFAIK, the arctometatarsus can still be a synapomorphy of Arctometatarsalia.

The fourth trochantor would indicate that it is not troodontid, avian or an advanced dromaeosaurid. [...] This leaves [...] and basal dromaeosaurids as possible candidates.

Does this mean that basal dromaeosaurids still have fourth trochanters?

The caudal vertebrae eliminate alvarezsaurids

What are the apomorphies of alvarezsaurid caudal vertebrae? The pneumatic openings (shared with oviraptorosaurs and many pygostylians)? (This is not intended as a rhethorical question, I just don't know...)

Carcharodontosaurid mani

Unfortunately, manus belongs to the u [/oo/] declination like domus and senatus, so the plural is manus again (with a longer u...)

 

Thank you very much, anyway! Before that I knew hardly more of Tugulusaurus than that it existed!