Dalianraptor and Gallimimus "mongoliensis"

[Michael Mortimer <mickey_mortimer111@msn.com>]

Two new published names-

Gallimimus "mongoliensis" was first discussed back in 1996 at a press 
conference by Barsbold, but now it's been published by Kobayashi and 
Barsbold (2006).

"A nearly complete skeleton of ornithomimid (MPD 100/14) was found from the 
Baishin Tsav of southeastern
Mongolia (where a primitive but toothless ornithomimosaur, Garudimimus 
brevipes, was discovered)
and was imfornally called ?Gallimimus mongoliensis? by Barsbold. It 
possesses derived features
(e.g., lack of teeth, subequal metacarpals, and arctometatarsalian condition 
of metatarsals) of
Ornithomimidae. It also differs from Gallimimus bullatus in having a small 
skull, more proximally positioned
medial divergence of metacarpal I, nearly straight manual unguals, and 
shorter metatarsals (Figs.
4C, 5B). The length ratio of manus/humerus is 0.91, greater than Gallimimus 
bullatus, but a common ratio
for ornithomimosaurs (Fig. 3). These suggest that this ornithomimid (MPD 
100/14) is not Gallimimus
but belong to another genus, perhaps a new taxon."

I don't agree with their conclusion regarding the manual length, since the 
shortened manus of G. bullatus doesn't mean G? "mongoliensis" can't be its 
sister taxon.

Kobayashi and Barsbold, 2006. Ornithomimids from the Nemegt Formation of 
Mongolia. J. Paleont. Soc. Korea. Vol. 22, No. 1, (2006) : p. 195-207.

More of a surprise is Dalianraptor.  Mentioned by Chiappe and Dyke (2006)-

"Very similar to these birds [Shenzhouraptor and Jeholornis] is 
Dalianraptor, also known from the Jiufotang Formation (Gao
and Liu, 2005). However, several differences in the morphology and 
proportions of the forelimb (e.g.,
much shorter forelimbs, longer digit I) suggest that Dalianraptor is neither 
Jeholornis nor Shenzhouraptor,
although it is likely a close relative of these birds."

Anyone have a copy of Gao and Liu (2005)?

Chiappe and Dyke, 2006. The early evolutionary history of birds. J. Paleont. 
Soc. Korea. Vol. 22, No. 1, (2006) : p. 133-151.

Gao C. and Liu J. 2005. A new avian taxon from Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang 
Formation of western Liaoning. Global
Geology 24(4):313-316. (in Chinese).

Mickey Mortimer