RE: Shameless paper request, and a naive question

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

> From: Michael Erickson <tehdinomahn@live.com>
>
> Naive Question:
> 
> In the paper I am requesting, isn't it determined that 
> _Nanotyrannus_ is an adult, due to full ossification of the 
> cranial elements? If this is the case, how can _Nanotyrannus_ 
> be a juvenile at all, let alone a juvenile _Tyrannosaurus 
> rex_? Is there some kind of awesome paper I'm missing? And if 
> there is, does said paper CONVINCINGLY refute Bakker, 
> Williams, and Currie's claim the cranial elements are fully ossified?

Required reading before anyone comments on the Nanotyrannus question:

Carr, Thomas D. (1999). "Craniofacial ontogeny in Tyrannosauridae
(Dinosauria, Coelurosauria)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 19 (3):
497-520.

Carr, T.D. and T.E. Williamson. 2005.  "Diversity of Late Maastrichtian
Tyrannosauridae (Dinosauria, Theropoda)": Zoological Journal of the Linnean
Society, v.142, pp.479-523. (PDF:
http://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/science/curators/Williamson_pdfs/CarrWilliam
2004.pdf)

Seriously, without reading these you are basically just commenting on the
popular press.

Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Email: tholtz@umd.edu   Phone: 301-405-4084
Office: Centreville 1216                        
Senior Lecturer, Vertebrate Paleontology
Dept. of Geology, University of Maryland
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/
Fax: 301-314-9661               

Faculty Director, Earth, Life & Time Program, College Park Scholars
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/eltsite/
Faculty Director, Science & Global Change Program, College Park Scholars
http://www.geol.umd.edu/sgc
Fax: 301-314-9843

Mailing Address:        Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
                        Department of Geology
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                        University of Maryland
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