Re: Maniraptoriformes

[NJPharris@aol.com]

In a message dated Fri, 11 Aug 2000  3:00:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time, "Ken 
Kinman" <kinman@hotmail.com> writes:

<<Is Coelurosauria considered to be a more stable and less controversial 
taxon than Maniraptoriformes (which may or may not include tyrannosauroids).>>

Depends what you mean by "more stable and less controversial".  It is easier 
(based on currently known fossils) to say what is and is not a coelurosaur than 
to say what is and is not a maniraptoriform.

Then again, someone will probably pipe up and say that since tyrannosaurids are 
big and scary and don't fit most people's conceptions of a "coelurosaur", they 
should be excluded from the group, regardless of where their relationships may 
lie! ;-)

Coelurosauria as a name is also older by a long shot.

Best,
Nick P.