Re: Protoavis and Megalancosaurus - and the ABSRD model of bird origins

["Tim Williams" <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

David Marjanovic wrote:

> > As the ABSRD theory (it sure ain't a hypothesis)
>
> Why? If I correctly remember the relevant page in www.dinosauria.com/jdp, 
> it
> is a hypothesis... (Whatever, nobody seems to care. ;-) )

IMHO, just saying another hypothesis is wrong does not, in itself, 
constitute a hypothesis.  That's why (and a little facetiously) I call 
Feduccia's model Anything-But-a-Small-Running-Dinosaur (ABSRD).  As many 
theropod paleontologists have said: Put up or shut up.  Feduccia and friends 
have yet to propose an explicit alternative to the origin of birds from 
theropods.  All we have from ABSRD is a warm-and-fuzzy notion about some 
arboreal diapsid from the Triassic which they JUST KNOW existed.

In effect, ABSRD has already concluded how birds evolved.  Now
Feduccia, Ruben and others are out looking for fossils that fit their 
theory.  In the 1990's, _Megalancosaurus_ was shoehorned into ABSRD.  Now 
it's _Longisquama_'s turn.


Tim

------------------------------------------------------------

Timothy J. Williams

USDA/ARS Researcher
Agronomy Hall
Iowa State University
Ames IA 50014

Phone: 515 294 9233
Fax:   515 294 3163

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