Re: Sinornithoides in DA... the first Sleeping Dragon.

[MariusRomanus@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/13/2005 8:29:53 PM Alaskan Standard Time, 
qilongia@yahoo.com writes:

>> Indeed, this is true. The authors of the *Mei* paper noted 
*Sinornithoides* similar posture, but indicated that the preservation level was 
lessened 
compared to that of *Mei*, so that their new taxon was "conclusive" whereas the 
Chinese animal was not. Debate concerns whether curled up in a "sleeping" 
posture is verifiable, as to that of huddling during a volcanic disaster or 
eolian/sandslide burial. <<

I don't believe what we have here is a sleeping posture either. It really 
looks as if what we actually have preserved is the futile attempt to protect 
against a volcanic/landslide onslaught. (I must have somehow forgotten the 
mention 
of Sino's posture in Mei's paper. I didn't bother to go back through it 
before posting. Regardless, I don't see what's so inconclusive about Sino's 
posture 
in respects to Mei's anyway.)

Kris
http://hometown.aol.com/saurierlagen/Paleo-Photography.html