RE: fate of commercially collected specimens, was (RE: Giant caenagnathid pix)

["Tracy L. Ford" <dino.hunter@home.com>]

>>The same applies to the pachycephalosaur specimen, also owned by Triebold
Paleontology. This is without doubt the most complete pachycephalosaur ever
found (including complete skull and most of the postcranial skeleton).<<

No, the skull is not complete, it's missing the dome.

 >>Thecurrent owner seems to be uncertain about its identity, it has been
announced as Stygimoloch spinifer or Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis.
Thorough study may reveal that S. spinifer is a junior synonym of the
latter, and that an adult P. wyomingensis attained a more modest size of 3
to 4m (10 to 13ft), instead of the often quoted 5 to 8m (17 to 26ft).<<

I thought I had figured it out, but now, I'm not sure what it is. I've seen
new Pachycephalosaurus domes with pointed nobs so I think the type has had
them worn off.

>>I wonder whether the skull of the caenagnathid cast skeleton is based on
good associated remains,  or only reconstructed based on comparisons with
Mongolian oviraptorids. If the former possibility is applicable, this means
that North American caenagnathids looked more like Asian "Rinchenia"-grade
oviraptorids, instead of Asian Ingenia-grade oviraptorids.<<

The lower jaw is complete. The skull itself is about half there. The front
half for sure and the 'crest' goes to the top back of the head. I've seen
the real material. I was there when he had it at the Tucson Rock /Fossil
show and was trying to figure out what it looked like, I'm glad he finally
did with the help of paleontologist.



Tracy L. Ford
P. O. Box 1171
Poway Ca  92074