Even Newer Ref!!!

["David Marjanovic" <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

Philip D. Gingerich, Alan Feduccia, Munir ul Haq, Reza*, John Ruben, Primal
Dude**, Larry D. Martin: An astonishing Konservat-Lagerstätte in the
Aalenian of northern Afghanistan, Afghan Geological Survey Special
Publications 20(4), 1 -- 186

ABSTRACT: In the remote valley of Shangri-La, near the Tajik border, a
grenade has exposed fossiliferous layers sometime during the war. Now that
the area is at least as accessible as 30 years ago, massive excavations have
begun, and the local economy has shifted from opium to fossil trade. Several
slabs have been secured by a policeman who demanded a higher bribe than the
smuggler could pay. The specimens are wonderfully preserved. Most belong to
an interesting species a lizardlike prolacertiform which shows many climbing
adaptations, such as a reduced number of digits on the forelimbs, stiff
wrists and long, almost immobile parasagittal hindlimbs. The humeri and
ulnae support unquestionable feathers, as does the long, remarkably stiff
and thin tail. This species is described here as *Euproavis salvator*. A
gliding lifestyle is suggested for this remarkable animal that may have had
a limited capability of perching. A new preliminary phylogenetic analysis of
the origin of birds is proposed, casting final doubt on the old loony idea
that birds are camouflaged dinosaurs. Among the other fossils a noasaurid
dinosaur is notable. Because of space restrictions it will be described
later, along with the frogs, beetles and the other crap, oh, er... On the
whole this site is very promising and will provide underpaid work for
paleontologists for decades to come.

* Has no surname.
** Won't tell his.