Re: Spinosaurus sail

[Waylon Rowley <whte_rbt_obj@yahoo.com>]

--- Rob Gay <rob_redwing@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Well, how much is known of the skulls of either
> _Suchomimus_ or _Baryonyx_? 
> s there fusion there? I don't see why this wouldn't
> be possible, considering 
> champsosaurs don't fuse their neural spines.
> Peace,
> Rob

The skull of Baryonyx has fused internasal sutures,
and the maxilla and premaxilla interdigitate tightly.
1 synapomorphy of the Spinosauridae is "fused
interpremaxillary suture at maturity", but if we lack
fully adult specimens, it makes you wonder where they
come up with this conclusion. Baryonyx also has an
interlocking "peg-in-notch" scapulocoracoid union. As
for the rest of the skeleton, I have no idea. I need
the papers for both Suchomimus and Baryonyx (and any
other spinosaurs except Spinosaurus, for that
matter!), but it certainly seems to me that these
animals, if not fully mature, were at least
approaching adulthood. 

Cheers,

Waylon Rowley        

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