From: "Sebastian Apesteguia" <ninjasarg@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ninjasarg@hotmail.com
To: twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com, dinosaur@usc.edu
Subject: noasaurids strikes back
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 13:03:10 -0300
So maybe this abstract is pertinent to the noasaurid matter:
Velocisaurids in South America and Madagascar (Ameghiniana 40(4): 77R)
F. AGNOLÍN, F. NOVAS and S. APESTEGUÍA
Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ?B. Rivadavia?, Av. Ángel Gallardo
470, (1405) Buenos Aires, Argentina. fedeagnolin@yahoo.com.ar;
fernovas@yahoo.com.ar; paleoninja@yahoo.com.ar
The family Velocisauridae was created by Bonaparte to include the bizarre
Velocisaurus unicus Bonaparte, from the Santonian Bajo de La Carpa
Formation, early recognized as an indeterminate ceratosaurian. Velocisaurus
can be included within Abelisauroidea for having the ginglimoid of the
third metatarsal very low, a strongly irregular distal trochleae of fourth
metatarsal, with the external condyle reduced and the internal one distally
projected, the second metatarsal with a strongly compressed area placed
proximal to the distal trochleae, and the characteristic pedal ungueal
structure described by Novas and Bandyopadhyay. Recently, the small-bodied
abelisauroid Masiakasaurus knopfleri Sampson, Carrano & Forster, was
discovered in Maastrichtian outcrops of Madagascar. Velocisaurus and
Masiakasaurus share slender metatarsals II and IV, and very gracile and
non-raptorial pedal phalanges with a long dorsal process. This features,
which distinguish them from other abelisauroids, prompts the inclusion of
the latter within Velocisauridae. Additionally, a reduced and thin 2nd
metatarsal, suggest close relationships with the noasaurid Noasaurus leali
Bonaparte y Powell. However, noasaurids differ from velocisaurids in having
a specialized raptorial ungueal structure. The Velocisauridae and the
Noasauridae form a monophyletic clade of small-bodied abelisauroids that
would also include forms from the Cenomanian of Egypt and Aptian of Brazil.
The extremely symmetrical pes of the abelisauroids, with a wide third
metatarsal and strongly compressed lateral metatarsals, resemble running
birds (e.g. Rhea), suggesting cursorial capabilities. The recognition of
velocisaurid abelisauroids both in Patagonia and Madagascar adds a new
major component to the Gondwanan Late Cretaceous fauna, increasing their
diversity and thus suggesting an endemic origin for the Abelisauroidea.
From: "Tim Williams" <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com
To: dinosaur@usc.edu
Subject: RE: offlist Re: Maniraptora
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 10:45:24 -0500
David Marjanovic wrote:
> Weird, huh? _Deltadromeus_ is a noasaurid according to one source.
In
> fact, I recently learned that this family is in the process of
undergoing
a
> major revision, and may include quite a number of genera.
May I ask any details?
As a wise man once said... W4TP.
;-)
_________________________________________________________________
From must-see cities to the best beaches, plan a getaway with the Spring
Travel Guide! http://special.msn.com/local/springtravel.armx
_________________________________________________________________
Charla con tus amigos en línea mediante MSN Messenger:
http://messenger.latam.msn.com/