Re: Peering at review

[Dino Guy Ralph <dinoguy@sbcglobal.net>]

Dinogeorge@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 10/21/02 3:45:11 PM EST, TiJaWi@agron.iastate.edu writes:
>
> << However, the available evidence supports a
>  contrary phylogenetic hypothesis: the origin of birds from derived theropod
>  dinosaurs of the clade Maniraptora. >>
>
> In BCF, modern birds all fall into the clade Maniraptora. I just disagree
> with the idea that the basal maniraptoran was a large (Deinonychus-size),
> cursorial animal.

Whether your hypothesis has merit, I have to ask: who is proposing this?  What
recently published scenario requires basal maniraptoran bird ancestors to be
large animals?

----------Ralph W. Miller III
               ralph.miller@alumni.usc.edu