RE: Alvarezsauridae (was RE: Me vs. Makovicky et al.- comparison and consensus)

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Brad McFeeters wrote:

> Or maybe Rapator is the sister taxon of Alvarezsauridae, rather than an 
> alvarezsaurid sensu stricto?  I don't remember who defined Alvarezsauridae, 
> but The Dinosauricon currently has it as the [Alvarezsaurus + Mononykus] 
> node.

Good point.  The name Alvarezsauria is available for a potentially more 
inclusive clade that is stem-based.  All we have for _Rapator 
ornitholestoides_ is an isolated phalanx (=first phalanx of pollex) that was 
found at Lightning Ridge, eastern Australia.  Not much to go on.  :-(  
_Rapator_ might have been a big alvarezsaur (maybe 6m), or a smaller 
alvarezsaur with big arms.  In the past, _Walgettosuchus woodwardi_ (based 
on an isolated tailbone) was referred to _Rapator_, but this seems totally 
unjustified.  They are both theropods, and both from the same part of 
Australia (northern NSW), but that's about all that they have in common.

Cheers

Tim