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Crocodiles as Dinosaurs (Was Re: An even dumber question)

From: "T. Michael Keesey" <mightyodinn@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mightyodinn@yahoo.com
To: Mailing List - Dinosaur <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Subject: Re: An even dumber question
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2004 02:52:28 -0700 (PDT)

--- zone65@bigpond.com wrote:
> What is it about crocodilians that makes them NOT dinosaurs? Ditto
> Komodo Dragons, other monitors, etc...

Originally, Dinosauria was recognized as a distinct group based on posture:
dinosaurs have erect limbs, with the feet placed directly under the body.
Crocodylians and varanids have the primitive sprawling posture, with the feet
placed further laterally.

I am aware of one exception to this rule. Edward Drinker Cope, in his series of papers "On the Evolution of the Vertebrata, Progressive and Retrogressive", wrote-

"This definition includes the Crocodilia in the Dinosauria, as it is absolutely connected with the typical Dinosauria by the Opisthocoela (Sauropoda Marsh)." (*American Naturalist* March 1885, p. 246)

Is this paper the earliest example of extant animals being referred to Dinosauria? I can't think of it happening at any other time except the moden movement to place Aves in Dinosauria.

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