Re: protofeathers

[Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au>]

(Note: tongue firmly planted in cheek...)

Jerry D. Harris wrote:
> 
> Feathers and hair are not the same dermal structure and cannot be
> compared this way.  They have completely different developmental
> processess.

Aren't pterosaur integumentary coverings often refered to as
"hairs"? Is the terminology more strictly enforced in theropods
because they are more popular? No-one seems to give a second thought
to covering those unpopular (read "non-theropod") pterosaurs with
"hair", despite the fact that I doubt very much that pterosaurs
and mammals shared a common furred ancestor.

Just out of interest, what are bird eyelashes called? Are they
branched in structure or just single filaments? Are they refered
to as "feathers"? Have I used enough question marks?

-- 
____________________________________________________
        Dann Pigdon
        GIS Archaeologist
        Melbourne, Australia

        Australian Dinosaurs:
        http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/4459/
        http://www.alphalink.com.au/~dannj
____________________________________________________