more exclusive news of theropod

[THammann@t-online.de (T Hammann)]

Hi all,

I've had a last look at my notes which I'd written down when I spoke to Mr. 
Viohl yesterday. There are two more interesting passages: Mr. Viohl said that 
he 
hopes the arms of the animal will be preparated soon. Then you can compare them 
with the arms and hands of Compsognathus longipes, which had only two claws per 
hand. So such a comparison would help a lot. Viohl said also that the complete 
preparation of the new theropod will last "at least one year", because there is 
only one preparator at the "Jura-Museum" and they are working at the same time 
for a planned big pterosaur-exhibit starting next year.

Today I phoned with Peter Wellnhofer, pterosaur- (and Compsognathus-) expert
of the paleontological museum in Munich. He said once more that it is MUCH too 
early to classify the animal exactly. But when he saw the pictures of the 
skull he thought that it could possibly be a Compsognathus (or better "some 
kind" of Compsognathus). The look of the teeth would look a bit like these of 
Compsognathus, he said. Also he thinks that there is no big chance to explain 
the evolution of birds with this particular find. Because the known 
Compsognathus longipes and Archaeopteryx were no very close relatives. The 
layer 
where the new theropod was found is millions of years older than the layers 
where Archaeopteryx and Compsognathus longipes where found, that is pretty sure 
he said. Then he remarked once more that it is much too early to say something 
concrete about this new find. (The photograph with the skull is so far the only 
one published!). 

Also I tried to contact the Weiss-brothers, but I've heard that they'll dig the 
whole summer in Bavaria. So it seems it will be extremely difficult for me to 
get new informations of the find within the next days or weeks. Of course I 
write you as soon as I've new pictures of the theropod or after I've seen it in 
real (if this is possible for me). It would also be very interesting to know 
first thoughts of OSTROM. Viohl wrote him letters and maybe there is someone on 
the list who can reach OSTROM via e-Mail?

Last but not least I'd like to thank you very much for your interest so far. 
And 
please excuse my reaction after the joke of Mr. Dunn. Of course I know that he 
is a very friendly and interested member of this list. I hope my reaction 
wasn't 
too extreme.

Hope you all have enjoyed the news of the discovered theropod as I did.
Greetings,
Thomas Hammann