Tanycolagreus topwilsoni

["R. Irmis" <rbi@dana.ucc.nau.edu>]

On my way to SVP, I visited the new North American Museum of Ancient Life
near Salt Lake City, UT.  They had on display a partial real skeleton of
something called "Tanycolagreus topwilsoni" along with several mounted casts
and a very nice sculpture.  It is from the Morrison Formation and seems very
Ornitholestes like in the postcrania.  I nor Tom Holtz (to whom I mentioned
it during SVP) had never heard of this taxon before.  It said in the display
that is was named in "May 2001"...but since I've never heard of it before I
assume it is still a nomen nudum.  Could this be the new "Coelurus" specimen
that Western Paleontological Laboratories (as they back the museum) had and
Ken Carpenter was working on?

Also, to echo Rob Gay's comments on the list a few months ago, this is a
very slick museum that shows what you can do with lots of money.  Hell, the
water erosion table is worth the entrance fee alone!  :)

Regards,
Randall Irmis