Re: raptors, 'raptors, "raptors"...?

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-08-15 17:59:28 EDT, dannj@alphalink.com.au writes:

<< Then again, if the term "raptor" refers to predatory birds, and if
 you consider birds and theropods one and the same, isn't any
 predatory theropod therefore a "raptor" in the true definition of the
 word? I seem to remember the Latin root meaning something like
 "to seize and carry away", hence the original (non-sexual) meaning of
 the word "rape". >>

Predatory birds, yes: >flying< predatory birds, not just any predatory birds.
I don't recall phorusrhacids and such ever being referred to as raptors in
this sense. Also, pretty much all theropods (and I certainly applaud the idea
that theropods and birds are "one and the same"--or at least, that theropods
were among the earliest and most primitive birds) were predatory, so the
expanded notion of "raptor" here would include almost all of them.