Re: Sinornithosaurus in Nature

["Tim Williams" <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Mickey_Mortimer wrote:

> 1.  The structures are collagenous fibers (despite the fact that the paper 
> was discussed with Peter Stettenheim, who ought to know a feather when he 
> sees one)
> 2.  Sinornithosaurus is a bird
> 3.  The authors have committed a fraud.
>
> I'd say "2" is his best bet.  If he can make Caudipteryx a bird, 
> >Sinornithosaurus (which is very similar to Archaeopteryx) should be no 
> >problem.

Yep, but to quote from Tom Holtz (I haven't read the full article yet):
"The authors point out that, in general, the filamentous integumental
appendgages as preserved of _Sinornithosaurus_, _Beipiaosaurus_, and
_Microraptor_ are indistinguishable from the contour feathers as preserved 
in _Confuciusornis_, _Eoenantiornis_, and _Chanchengornis_."

It may be even more difficult to ram _Beipiaosaurus_ and _Microraptor_ into 
the Aves.  Again, square pegs into round holes.  I look forward to the ABSRD 
take on this paper.


Tim


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