Kinnareemimus khonkaenensis, Thailand ornithomimosaur

["Thomas R. Holtz, Jr." <tholtz@umd.edu>]

This just in:

Buffetaut, E., V. Suteethorn & H. Tong. 2009. An early 'ostrich dinosaur'
(Theropoda: Ornithomimosauria) from the Early Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation
of NE Thailand, pp. 229-243 IN E. Buffetaut, G. Cuny, J. Le Loeuff & V.
Suteethorn (eds.), Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Ecosystems in SE Asia.
Geological Society, London, Special Publications 315: 229-243.
DOI: 10.1144/SP315.16

Abstract: Postcranial remains of a small theropod dinosaur, including
vertebrae, incomplete pubes, tibiae, an incomplete fibula, metatarsals and
phalanges, from the Early Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation of Phu Wiang, Khon
Kaen Province, NE Thailand, are described as a new taxon of ornithomimosaur,
Kinnareemimus khonkaenensis, gen. et sp. nov. This early 'ostrich dinosaur'
is characterized by a fairly advanced metatarsus, in which metatarsal III,
although still visible proximally between metatarsals II and IV in cranial
view, is markedly 'pinched' more distally and becomes triangular in
cross-section. The condition of its metatarsus shows that Kinnareemimus
khonkaenensis is more derived than the geologically younger primitive
ornithomimosaurs Harpymimus and Garudimimus, but less derived than
Archaeornithomimus. Its occurrence in the Early Cretaceous of Thailand
suggests that advanced ornithomimosaurs may have originated in Asia.

Etymology. From Kinnaree, graceful beings of Thai mythology, with the body
of a woman and the legs of a bird, said to inhabit the depths of the
legendary Himmapan Forest, by allusion to the bird-like feet of this
dinosaur.

Also, some other dino-related papers, but I have to run off to teach now.

Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Email: tholtz@umd.edu   Phone: 301-405-4084
Office: Centreville 1216                        
Senior Lecturer, Vertebrate Paleontology
Dept. of Geology, University of Maryland
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/
Fax: 301-314-9661               

Faculty Director, Earth, Life & Time Program, College Park Scholars
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/eltsite/
Faculty Director, Science & Global Change Program, College Park Scholars
http://www.geol.umd.edu/sgc
Fax: 301-314-9843

Mailing Address:        Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
                        Department of Geology
                        Building 237, Room 1117
                        University of Maryland
                        College Park, MD 20742 USA