Re: Most popular/common dinosaur misconceptions

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Jaime Headden wrote:

>   Megaraptor's status as a non-dromaeosaurid has been in print in one tiny
> paper, while the osteological proof for the claw NOT being on the foot has 
> not
> been published

I hate to contradict you, but this was published by Calvo et al. (2004; 
Ameghiniana 41: 565-575).  Based on a new specimen, the authors set out 
their reasons for regarding _Megaraptor_ as a basal tetanuran (not a 
coelurosaur), and for re-assigning the large raptorial ungual of the 
holotype to the manus.  As you say, the ungual could belong to the pes, and 
the manus and pes may have similar unguals.  But the most parsimonious 
explanation is that the distinctive ungual of the holotype pertains to the 
hand, not the foot.

But I agree with you on another point.  I don't accept Enigmosauria as 
valid.  Sereno erected the name Oviraptoriformes for the 
oviraptorosaur+therizinosaur clade.  It's a shame, because I preferred the 
name Enigmosauria over Oviraptoriformes.

Cheers

Tim