Re: Megalosaurs

[NJPharris@aol.com]

In a message dated 96-05-31 11:35:14 EDT, Adam Yates wrote (first
quoting Tim Williams):

>> One source (I think it was Lambert's _Ultimate Dinosaur_) listed
>> _Piatnitzkysaurus_ as an abelisaurid.  Any comments?
>
>It isn't. Abelisaurids are ceratosaurs, Piatnitzkysaurus is a
>tetanuran, albeit a primitive one. For example it has the tetanuran
>character of a fenestra in the antorbital fossa, opening into the
>maxillary sinus.

Based on pelvic anatomy (the known ischium of _P. floresi_ looks badly
warped to me, BTW), _Piatnitzkysaurus_ seems to be about on a par with
_Monolophosaurus_.  These may both be early carnosaurs, or they may be
theropods more advanced than megalosaurs but more primitive than
either carnosaurs or coelurosaurs.

Nick Pharris
at home in Olympia, WA
NJPharris@aol.com

"Consciousness:  that annoying time between naps."