RE: Revising Hou et al, 96 (long)

["Williams, Tim" <TiJaWi@agron.iastate.edu>]

Mickey Mortimer wrote:

> 1. feathers
> I leave this unknown in dromaeosaurids, though taxa some consider
> members of this family (Sinornithosaurus, Microraptor) have them, as 
> does the new possible Yixian dromaeosaurid.  

Mickey is a nice guy, but here he's being overly charitable.  :-) The
new possible Yixian dromaeosaurid (BPM 1 3-13) shows structures along
its limbs and tail which could only be regarded as true feathers: these
structures have a rachis and barbs, conforming to the pinnate morphology
of modern feathers (as known for _Caudipteryx_, _Protarchaeopteryx_ and
birds).    

> *. hypopubic cup
> This was not included because it is merely the ABSRDers excuse for
> Archaeopteryx's pubic foot.  Archaeopteryx does not have a hypopubic
> cup, though Velociraptor ironically has a similar structure.

Go figure.

> Chaoyangia + Ornithurae-
> *. small pedal claws
> This character is rejected because it is not quantified and highly
> correlated with non-perching habits.

I'm a little unclear on this point.  How so?

> "Cathayornis" (=Sinornis)

It does?  I know this has been mooted...

> Deleting the poorly known Yandangornis

_Yandangornis_ is actually known from a nearly complete skeleton (ZMNH
M1326), though the forelimbs (wings?) are mostly missing.  However,
_Yandangornis_ is preserved in two dimensions, which unfortunately
obscures certain anatomical details (as in specimens of
_Archaeopteryx_).

Nicholas Gardner wrote:

> It does seem strange that when you correct the characters the
> phylogeny no longer supports the Sauriurae-Ornithurae dichotomy. :-)

The entire Sauriurae-Ornithurae dichotomy is an example of not letting
the facts get in the way of a good story.  I'm sure Mickey would agree.
:-)

Nice work, Mickey.



Tim


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

Timothy J. Williams 

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

Phone: 515 294 9233 
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