RE: Shenzhouraptor--additional info

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

Ben Creisler wrote:

> Qi seems to suggest there were TWO types birds that 
> evolved from theropods--

A diphyletic Aves?  Isn't this what Kurochkin is on record as proposing?

Well, it's been suggested for bats...


> birds that achieved flight from 
> the trees down and birds that achieved flight by running.

As Padian and others have pointed out on many occasions: the two scenarios
are NOT mutually exclusive.  In fact, the most primitive birds and most
primitive deinonychosaurs are built like they were adept at both running and
climbing.



Tim



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

Timothy J. Williams, Ph.D. 

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

Phone: 515 294 9233 
Fax:   515 294 9359