Re: Compsognathus/Sinosauropteryx (was RE: Yixian Dating Again)

[Jura <archosaur@reptilis.net>]

>> How many fingers did sinosauropteyx have? i have seen it 
>> illustrated with 2 sometimes, and more often 3. 
>
>All scientific descriptions of _Sinosauropteryx_ refer to three fingers per
>hand in this theropod, AFAIK.  I can't see why this critter would be
>restored with only two manual digits - especially since recent descriptions
>of _Compsognathus_ give this genus three digits on the hand as well.
>
>
>Tim

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Do you have any refs handy for these recent descriptions? Do any of them have a 
basis in anatomy, or is _Compsognathus_ just assumed to have had three fingers 
now because _Sinosauropteryx_ had them?

Jura

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"I am impressed by the fact that we know less about many modern [reptile] types 
than we do of many fossil groups." 
- Alfred S. Romer  Osteology of the Reptiles

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