Size of Theropods -Reply

[Scott Horton <HORTONS@EM.AGR.CA>]

 >Now that coelurosaurs have got pretty big with the inclusion of
>tyrannosaurs, just what is an acceptable definition of the differences
>between the two?
>Graeme Worth

I thought that the inclusion of tyrannosaurs into ceolurosauria (or
whatever the term is) was still being considered heretical or at least very
controversial. Has it gained general acceptance? Is Tyrannosaurus more
closely related to Deinocheirus than to, say, Allosaurus?

On another topic, I think Thomas may have misunderstood what was
being suggested. (I can't quote the piece I want to because my mail
software won't let me cut and paste from several different messages to
make one reply). I forget who posted the idea, but I think they envisioned
the sickle claw of dromaeosaurs being used to scale the flanks of
sauropods or whatever in order to get onto their backs and bite at their
necks. I remember about a year ago, Mickey suggested that the claw
could have been used to climb trees in the fashion of people who used
cleated shoes to climb telephone poles. I don't take any sides on this
argument but they sure are interesting and innovative ideas. Another
idea I had is that the sickle claw could be used to spear small mammals
or lizards that they were running after.