Re: Not so new papers

["Tim Williams" <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

David Marjanovic wrote:

> "..The trace of the Early Jurassic squatting theropod from Massachusetts 
> contains the pubic-abdominal imprint with the hair- or feather-like 
> impressions. ..."

Ah, but as we all know, these are really just "macerated collagen fibers" 
aren't they.

;-)

"Applying the Liliensternus and Dilophosaurus proportions of whole body 
length to foot length, to AC 1/7 footprint size, the trackmaker's length can 
be estimated as approximately 5 m."

I wonder if this down-like body covering may have been seasonal.  Maybe 
theropods (especially, but not exclusively, the big ones) shed their "fuzz" 
in the spring and sprouted it again as winter approaches.  This might 
explain its apparent absence in the Bavarian _Compsognathus_ and its 
presence in _Sinosauropteryx_ of Liaoning.

By the way, thanks for the reference David.

Tim



------------------------------------------------------------

Dr Timothy J. Williams

USDA/ARS Researcher
Agronomy Hall
Iowa State University
Ames IA 50014

Phone: 515 294 9233
Fax:   515 294 3163

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