Microraptor

["Williams, Tim" <TiJaWi@agron.iastate.edu>]

Last night I was perusing the description of _Microraptor_...

Xu et al. (2000). The smallest known non-avian theropod dinosaur.  Nature
408: 705-708.  

Something confused me.  The authors note that the estimated "trunk" length
is 47mm long and the sacrum is 19mm long.  Are they including the sacrum in
the size of the trunk?  To me, "trunk" means the part of the body between
the base of the neck and the base of the tail - so the sacrum is included.
If Xu et al. use the same definition, this means that the trunk of
_Microraptor_ is only slightly longer than the skull (45mm).  

Any help would be hugely appreciated.


Tim



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Timothy J. Williams, Ph.D. 

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

Phone: 515 294 9233 
Fax:   515 294 9359