Re: JP3 Trailer

["Jack Conrad" <conradjack@hotmail.com>]

Hi all,

I don't say much here, these days, but thought I would comment on this 
thread.

> Synomy between _Suchomimus_ and _Spinosaurus_ would have to be 
> demonstrated,
> same as if the holotype hadn't been destroyed (I'm unfamiliar with the
> specifics of these two genera, but I assume Sereno et. al. must have 
> compared
> _Suchomimus_ to the existing illustrations and written descriptions of
> _Spinosaurus_ before establishing _Suchomimus_).

Indeed, comparisons were made between _Suchomimus_, _Baryonyx_, 
_Spinosaurus_, and _Irritator_.  There seem to be two lineages of 
Spinosauridae, the Baryonychinae and the Spinosaurinae (or "-ini" for each 
of these "-inae", a semantic issue).  Peculiarities of the jaws and tooth 
replacement show that _Suchomimus_ is not _Spinosaurus_.  The height of the 
neural spines could be cited as further evidence (_Suchomimus_ had much 
shorter neural spines) that the two are distinct, though this might be 
sexually dimorphic.

There are more differences and I could add to the list when I get back to 
the office, if I think that there is any interest.

Jack
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