Re: DIGIT LOSS INQUIRY

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/14/01 5:19:41 PM EST, Mickey_Mortimer11@msn.com writes:

<< Iguanodon atherfieldensis and hadrosaurids have three phalanges on manual 
digit V, I. bernissartensis has four.  This is more than Camptosaurus, 
Hypsilophodon, Heterodontosaurus, ceratopsians, thyreophorans, 
sauropodomorphs, theropods, Herrerasaurus and Eoraptor.  Seems they must have 
gained more phalanges. >>

Not necessarily; there is some phalangeal loss in all those other taxa 
(particularly the theropods, which are pretty much irrelevant to Iguanodon). 
And Ouranosaurus may also have retained four V-manual phalanges. So a 
primitive number of four V-manual phalanges for Dinosauria cannot be 
excluded. Plus, these are manual digits, and I'm more concerned with pedal 
digits here.