Re: the first raptor

["Mickey_Mortimer11" <Mickey_Mortimer11@email.msn.com>]

Steven Coombs wrote-

> _Rahonavis_ is not found in Campanian, but in the Maastrichtian!

The difference is astounding! ;-)  But seriously, I was depending on the
original description by Forster et al. (1998) that cites the Maevarano
Formation as being possibly Campanian.  Looking at the most recent
description of a Maevarano dinosaur (Rapetosaurus; Curry-Rogers and Forster,
2001) indicates that it has been recently dated as Maastrichtian (Rogers et
al., 2000).  However, my point still stands (more so even) that Rahonavis
lived quite a bit later than Boluochia.
As to the original intent of the post though, Changchengornis has a decurved
upper beak that might suggest carnivory, and lived slightly earlier than
Boluochia (Middle Barremian).

Mickey Mortimer