RE: Trilophosaurs

[Toby White <mwhite@houston.rr.com>]

The most recent work-up I have is Jalil (1997) who puts them in their usual 
spot next to the rhynchosaurs at the base of the Archosauromorpha.  My 
understanding is that there is less weirdness here than meets the eye.  The 
basic design theme is that Trilophosaurus has consolidated the skull and 
re-enforced it to withstand the stresses of really massive jaw adductors. 
The sides of the skull are made almost vertical and (if I recall) the lower 
fenestra is closed.  This automatically broadens the upper temporal 
fenestra for the adductors and leaves only a sagital crest at the center of 
the skull which, naturally enough, becomes more arched and prominent to 
support its role as the main beam of the skull table.

A certain evil scientist, who will remain nameless, has been sitting on a 
complete series of CAT scans of the skull for five years without publishing 
them except as an SVP abstract.  Personally, I've had no luck trying to 
reach him by email.  The only other detailed publications on the beast are 
single-copy, do-not-circulate state secrets at the University of Texas.  As 
a result, particularly with the unpublished CAT scans sitting out there, it 
will be many, many years before anyone takes a serious look at 
trilophosaurus again.

  --Toby White

Vertebrate Notes at
http://home.houston.rr.com/vnotes/index.html
and http://www.dinodata.net



-----Original Message-----
From:   Jean-michel BENOIT [SMTP:Jean-Michel.BENOIT@gemplus.com]
Sent:   Tuesday, September 05, 2000 4:44 AM
To:     dinosaur@usc.edu
Subject:        Trilophosaurs

Hello,
I've read these animals have been moved within reptilia a few times. Can 
anyone tell me what is their position today regarding their unique temporal 
aperture?

Thanks in advance

Jimmy