Re: Segnosaurs Analyzed as Prosauropods

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/7/01 8:24:09 PM EST, eamalitz@hotmail.com writes:

<< I was wondering if the swollen parbasisphenoid was a potential
synapomorphy
 of the Ornithomimosaur-therizinosaur clade? >>

I don't see this structure as being homologous in these two clades. In
segnosaurs it is the basisphenoid that is "swollen," in bullatosaurs it is
the parasphenoid that is "swollen." Conflating the parasphenoids and
basisphenoids only confuses the situation; they are distinct cranial elements.