Re: anatomical questions (mandibule of a basal synapsid)

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

> A cotylus [...] those cotyla

Cotyli then :-)

> > 5) Is the 'coronoid eminence', the portion of the posterior coronoid
> > visible in lateral view or does it continue posteriorly along the
> > surangular?
>
> I'd say the second possibility.  Oviraptorids have a coronoid eminence on
> their surangular that their coronoid (which is barely present) doesn't 
> even
> participate in.

It's a functional term for the dorsal process of the lower jaw to which jaw 
muscles attach. It can be formed by quite different bones. For example in 
mammals it's the dentary (what else...) that has a "coronoid process". In 
squamates it is commonly formed (where present) by the coronoid bone, and 
that's how that bone got its name.