Re: Confuciusornis and other feathered beasts

[Matthew Troutman <m_troutman@hotmail.com>]

<<I note that "The Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs" refers to Confuciusornis as a 
'toothless bird'.  In other places, I read that it is a feathered dinosaur 
(I assume this means non-avian dinosaur).   Could someone tell me if 
Confuciusornis (as well as Caudipteryx and  Protoarchaeopteryx) are 
considered  "non-avian feathered dinosaurs" by dinosaur paleontologists.  
I'm assuming Sinosauropteryx is unequivocally a non-avian dinosaur with some 
kind of  feathers.  Right?>>

If your references refer to _Confuciusornis_ as a feathered *non*-avian 
dinosaur they are wrong.  It is redundant of course to call _C._ a feathered 
avian dinosaur.  _C._ and kin are very basal birds, not far off from 
_Archaeopteryx_.

_Caudipteryx_ was described as the closest sister-group to birds themselves, 
but now recent works suggest that it is a oviraptorosaurian related to 
_Oviraptor_ and other things along those lines.

_Protarchaeopteryx_ (note spelling) was described as the sister-group to 
dromaeosaurids (I believe specifically velociraptorines, I don't have the 
paper handy) and this has changed greatly.

_Sinosauropteryx_ is unequivocally a non-avian dinosaurs related to 
_Compsognathus_.  As for its feathers...uh... just say that they are 
regardless of what some may say (I myself hesitate to call them feathers 
just now although I do not buy the collagen fiber interpretation for a 
second).

Matt Troutman
m_troutman@hotmail.com


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