Re: Kong 2005... & Paleo finds of the year 2005

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Jim Cunningham wrote:

> I dunno.  Hal Clement, Poul Anderson, and Robert Heinlein always made all 
> their science believable.

So did Arthur C. Clarke - most of the time.

I was pleased to see that Arthur C. Clarke has a dinosaur named after him: 
_Serendipaceratops arthurcclarkei_.  The name also references Clarke's home 
in an indirect way (Serendip = Sarandib = Sri Lanka), even though 
_Serendipaceratops_ itself was found in Australia.  The discovery of this 
ceratopsian was apparently serendipitous - just like the discoveries made by 
"The Three Princes of Serendip" in an old Persian story.  _Serendipaceratops 
arthurcclarkei_ is a clever name; but such a shame that this dinosaur is 
also so poorly known (and treated as a nomen dubium by some).  :-(

Scott Hartman wrote:

> I think the new Archaeopteryx specimen is pretty important,

I'd go along with that.  The fact that this specimen was turned over to 
scientific scrutiny was an accomplishment in itself.  As for the actual 
specimen ... apart from being superbly articulated, it puts the final nail 
in the coffin for the idea that _Archaeopteryx_ was built for perching in 
trees.  The urvogel may certainly have spent its time in trees, but a 
percher... uh-uh.

Cheers

Tim