Re: WHAT CAUDIPTERYX SAYS

[Pharris Nicholas J <pharrinj@plu.edu>]

On Thu, 25 Feb 1999 Darren Naish (darren.naish@port.ac.uk) wrote:

> Something worth pointing out is that, *if* _Caudipteryx_ is an 
> oviraptorosaur, it might tell us some important things about the 
> group that were not previously knowable. First off, the things are 
> feathered, and we now know the distribution of at least some of their 
> feathers - I'm thinking specifically big arm feathers for the 
> brooding oviraptors here. Secondly, as _Caudipteryx_ is small (as is 
> _Microvenator_, but then the type specimen is a juvenile), 
> oviraptorosaurs may have their roots in small ancestors. 

Also, since _Caudipteryx_ lacks an arctomet foot, it is further
confirmation that the arctomet condition in _Elmisaurus_ and friends is
independently derived (since in other characters, especially the retention
of teeth, _Caudi_ is more primitive than the caenagnathids).


Nick Pharris
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA 98447
(253)535-7045