Re: [Re: T-Tip]

[Berislav Krzic <illustrissimus@usa.net>]

I second George on this subject. He's got some good arguments. Besides, we
mustn't forget that Compsognathus and Sinosauropteryx were thousands of
kilometers apart - separated by mountains and seas. Also,if I am correct, the
type specimen of Compsognathus longipes has four manus claws preserved (two
for each hand). Another question:is the number of digits really crucial for
defining close relationship of two animal species/genera? Aren't there for
example, two living species of sloths (closely related): one with two-clawed
hand the other with three-clawed hand?
Drawing conclusions that Compsognathus had three-clawed hands just because it
was closely (?) related to Sinosauropteryx, and not upon hard fossilized
evidence is a risky business in paleontology. 
For me, the odds are on the two-fingers side, for the time being...


Sincerely,
Berislav Krzic
dinosaurbero@geocities.com
illustrissimus@usa.net
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