Re: New paper on fish fingers

["Jaime A. Headden" <qilongia@yahoo.com>]

David Marjanovic wrote:

<> But wait. It can easily be argued that the costal plates are there and fused 
to the ribs, rather than the ribs being broadened (as they are in 
*Eunotosaurus* and *Pumiliopareia*); that would mean it has the same carapace 
morphology as *Chinlechelys*, except that it lacks the peripherals, the nuchal 
and the pygal (which are undoubted osteoderms) as well as the neck & tail 
spikes.>

  David, I think ou are trying to argue for the ribs + plates in *Odontochelys* 
based solely on their similar appearance. Note that the *Chinlechelys* authors 
made their allusion to independant ossification ONLY because they observed 
sutures between the elements. You have not even gone that far, but are 
inferring more based on our observations. Note that nuchal plates in 
*Odontochelys* are apparent, distinct, and textured, while the ribs appear to 
have a unique morphology, which may or may not have anything to do with them 
being fused to plates. You have a LONG way to climb just to make a thesis 
regarding coossification in *Odontochelys*.

  Cheers,

Jaime A. Headden

"Innocent, unbiased observation is a myth." --- P.B. Medawar (1969)