RE: Rauhut's Thesis (long)

["Rob Gay" <rob_redwing@hotmail.com>]

> Now Im really confused.  Your saying that Monolophosaurus' crest is a
> direct descendent of ceratosaur cranial ornamentation?<
No. I was trying to demonstrate how nasolacrimal ridges can be present
across a wide-range of theropods. I was also trying to say that the ridge is
not convergent or homologous...its a different sort of structure, developed
due to different pressures on the animal.

> Therefore, double nasolacrimal crests *might* be a feature of
> non-neoceratosaurian ceratosaurs (boy, that was a mouthful!).<
Indeed, quite the mouthful. If might is the key word, I could agree to that
in principle. But I have yet to see that these are all closely related.

> How you can confidently draw all those characters from a small illustration
> in the paper on "D." sinensis, I don't know.<
I don't. I'm taking them from several photographs I have of the skull and
skeleton.

> I'd like to see someone do a cladistic analysis to see where *sinensis*
> falls.<
So would I. Hop on it! ;)

> I do have a question, the authors state that "D." sinensis has 5 premax.
> teeth<
Doh! Forgot to mention that one to. That, I think is very bizzare.
Peace,
Rob

Student of Geology
Northern Arizona University
Biological Science Tech
Manti-La Sal National Forest
AIM: TarryAGoat
http://www.geocities.com/elvisimposter/dinopics.html
http://www.cafepress.com/RobsDinos
"A _Coelophysis_ with feathers?"

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