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SKINKS, CUCKOOS, AMNIOTE EGG etc



Or, in other words.. some new refs I've found.

Ruxton, G.D. 2000. Statistical power analysis: application to an 
investigation of dinosaur thermal physiology. _J. Zoology_ 252: 239-
241.

Statistical refutation of the Barrick et al. conclusion that 
_Tyrannosaurus_ had a body core temperature higher than that of its 
extremeties. This argument - which does not invalidate Barrick et al.'s 
conclusions but highlights errors of calculation relevant to their data - 
is separate from the isotope-based approach being worked on by 
others. Clive Trueman and other palaeobiologists have argued that the 
isotope signature seen in the dinosaur fossils may not represent the 
animal's lifetime physiology.

Reynoso, V.-H. and Callison, G. 2000. A new scincomorph lizard 
from the Early Cretaceous of Puebla, Mexico. _Zool. J. Linn. Soc._ 
130: 183-212.

The new taxon _Tepexisaurus tepexii_ is known from a complete 
skeleton. Appears to be the sister-taxon to the scincoids and has 
similarities with _Saurillus_ and _Pseudosaurillus_. The authors 
argue that paramacellodids are paraphyletic. The late occurrence of 
_Tepexisaurus_, alongside sphenodontians and the basal squamate 
_Huehuecuetzpalli_, adds further support to the idea that the Tlayua 
region was a refugium for archaic taxa.

Skulan, J. 2000. Has the importance of the amniote egg been 
overstated? _Zool. J. Linn. Soc._ 130: 235-261.

Every now and again someone challenges the cherished views that we 
have all become familiar with. Skulan argues that the conventional 
idea about origin of the amniotic egg (what he terms the Haeckelian 
framework) is flawed because; egg-laying on land doesn't seem to be as 
difficult as convention argues, nor would terrestrial egg-laying 'need' a 
structure as complex as the amniotic egg; physical conditions that eggs 
endure on land are mild compared to aquatic conditions; finally, the 
modern 'amphibian' mode of egg laying is not demonstrably more 
primitive than that seen in tetrapods: 'Amniotes are as likely as frogs or 
salamanders to retain primitive reproductive character states'.

Hughes, J.M. 2000. Monophyly and phylogeny of cuckoos (Aves, 
Cuculidae) inferred from osteological characters. _Zool. J. Linn. Soc._ 
130: 263-307.

Cuculids, hoatzins and touracos are united by shared characters of the 
carpometacarpi, but hoatzins and touracos form a clade and are united 
in the Opisthocomiformes. Cuculiform tree is turned on its head as 
ALL parasitic cuckoos are identified as a clade - meaning that 
parasitism evolved once in the group (rather than 3 times as argued 
previously). A complete taxonomy of cuckoos is presented and, 
incidentally, this paper provides another example of a parsimony-
generated tree that is then reinterpreted as a Linnean hierarchy. Wiley 
(1981) provides the methodology - is widely used by ornithologists.

Finally, if you like pictures of freaky looking extinct mammals...

Naples, V.L. and Martin, L.D. 2000. Restoration of the superficial 
facial musculature in nimravids. _Zool. J. Linn. Soc._ 130: 55-81.

The restoration on p. 60 of a gaping _Barbourofelis_ has to be seen to 
be believed. I'm not too sure about the donkey ears myself.

"It's the evil pets!"

DARREN NAISH 
PALAEOBIOLOGY RESEARCH GROUP
School of Earth, Environmental & Physical Sciences
UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH
Burnaby Building
Burnaby Road                           email: darren.naish@port.ac.uk
Portsmouth UK                          tel: 01703 446718
P01 3QL