Re: fused/unfused scap/coracoid

[David Peters <davidrpeters@earthlink.net>]

No. I'm talking about Protorosaurus versus Macrocnemus, Tanystropheus, etc.

As an aside, many large adult pterosaurs have unfused scap/coracoids, eg.
Nyctosaurus (here the smaller ones like N. nanus are fused, and the larger are
not), most Ornithocheirids save for one clade which has reacquired fusion.

DP



Christopher Collinson wrote:

> Well there is probably a very simple answer to this but you're not going to
> like it. The simple answer is of course that you are assuming some of your
> daughter taxa are adult based on the disputable presence of embryos and
> neonates rather than on the osteological evidence. The specimens which show
> incomplete fusion of the scapula and coracoid are most probably not adults
> based on the osteological evidence and this would be a good time to
> re-evaluate the presence of the embryos in these specimens, which to my
> knowledge no one else has been able to independently confirm.
>
> Cheers,
> Christopher
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "david peters" <davidrpeters@earthlink.net>
> To: <dinosaur@usc.edu>
> Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 3:03 PM
> Subject: fused/unfused scap/coracoid
>
> > I notice in some primitive diapsids (Protorsaurus and kin) that the
> scapula and coracoid are fused. This pair becomes unfused then fused again a
> few times in daughter taxa. Any thoughts on why this does or doesn't happen,
> especially in these early diapsid sprawlers?
> >
> > David Peters
> > St. Louis
> >
> >
> >
> >