RE: Richardostesia teeth

["Thomas R. Holtz, Jr." <tholtz@geol.umd.edu>]

> From: owner-DINOSAUR@usc.edu [mailto:owner-DINOSAUR@usc.edu]On Behalf Of
> ackolbert@aol.com
>
>  I have seen teeth attributed to Richardostesia both very straight and with 
> significant curvature (Dromeosauer
> albertensis like), both with and without serrations.  Are there multiple 
> species here or are they all from the same
> animal, but different types of teeth?  Can anyone set me straight here?  
> Thanks,

Wish we could set you straight, but unfortunately Richardoestesia remains 
rather mysterious. With the exception of a pair of slender
dentaries, we do not have (or at least do not recognize as having) any fossils 
of this dinosaur other than teeth. And while people
have given various species names to the different tooth forms (R. gilmorei, R. 
isoceles), we honestly don't know if these represent
different species, different growth stages, different parts of the jaw (dentary 
vs. maxillary), different tooth positions, etc.

One of these days someone is going to find parts of the rest of this dinosaur, 
and hopefully that will help us sort things out.

Hope this helps,

                Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
        Senior Lecturer, Vertebrate Paleontology
Department of Geology           Director, Earth, Life & Time Program
University of Maryland          College Park Scholars
        Mailing Address:
                Building 237, Room 1117
                College Park, MD  20742

http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/
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Phone:  301-405-4084    Email:  tholtz@geol.umd.edu
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