re: New long-necked gliding reptile

[david peters <davidrpeters@earthlink.net>]

I agree with Silvio Renesto. 

Interesting that Coelurosauravus was not mentioned by Fraser as the most likely 
sister taxon. The neck length/torso length ratio is better than 4:10. And 
sister taxa, like Icarosaurus, shortened the torso as display (think of 
Chlamydosaurus) evolved into gliding.

Somewhat like Tanystropheus, Coelurosauravus has few to no chevrons and a 
non-terminal naris (did the artist get it wrong?). The pelvis is close in 
morphology too.

Like Coelurosauravus, the artist impression has the same manual and pedal digit 
ratios and proportions. The limbs are similar to Coelurosauravus in length. The 
teeth are presumeably likewise small and uniform, because the artist did not 
show them -- unlike Tanystropheus.

Unlike Coelurosauravus, the artist provides no 'crown/shield', a terminal 
naris, no deep posterior mandible. The wing pattern is more like that of 
Icarosaurus, with fewer 'ribs' and following the same pattern. 

In my cladistic analysis Coelurosauravus is a sister to Icarosaurus, so such a 
creature is not that far out there.

But if it is related to Tanystropheus, it would be.

David Peters
St. Louis