Re: Linheraptor exquisitus

[Jocelyn Falconnet <j.falconnet@gmail.com>]

Xu X., Choiniere J.N., Pittman M., Tan Q., Xiao D., Li Z., Tan L., 
Clarck J.M., Norell M.A., Hone D.W.E. & Sullivan C. 2010.
A new dromaeosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous 
Wulansuhai Formation of Inner Mongolia, China.
Zootaxa 2403: 1–9 (19 Mar. 2010).

We describe a new dromaeosaurid theropod from the Upper Cretaceous 
Wulansuhai Formation of Bayan Mandahu, Inner
Mongolia. The new taxon, Linheraptor exquisitus gen. et sp. nov., is 
based on an exceptionally well-preserved, nearly
complete skeleton. This specimen represents the fifth dromaeosaurid 
taxon recovered from the Upper Cretaceous
Djadokhta Formation and its laterally equivalent strata, which include 
the Wulansuhai Formation, and adds to the known
diversity of Late Cretaceous dromaeosaurids. Linheraptor exquisitus 
closely resembles the recently reported Tsaagan
mangas. Uniquely among dromaeosaurids, the two taxa share a large, 
anteriorly located maxillary fenestra and a contact
between the jugal and the squamosal that excludes the postorbital from 
the infratemporal fenestra. These features suggest
a sister-taxon relationship between L. exquisitus and T. mangas, which 
indicates the presence of a unique dromaeosaurid
lineage in the Late Cretaceous of Asia. A number of cranial and dental 
features seen in L. exquisitus and T. mangas, and
particularly some postcranial features of L. exquisitus, suggest that 
these two taxa are probably intermediate in
systematic position between known basal and derived dromaeosaurids. The 
discovery of Linheraptor exquisitus is thus
important for understanding the evolution of some salient features seen 
in the derived dromaeosaurids.

Here is the paper: http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2010/2/zt02403p009.pdf
Be careful: I first foudn this one 
:http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2010/f/z02403p009f.pdf
which is only a short version of the description of *Linheraptor*... 
that I found curiously not in accordance with the ICZN... and for good 
reason.
Plus, it was surprising given the presence of several veterans among the 
authors of the paper...

Anyway, the holotype of *Linheraptor* is wonderful !! I say: more 
dinosaurs founded on such skeletons !

PS: thank you, Yasmani Ceballos Izquierdo (being not a spanish speaker, 
may I suppose Ceballos is part of your family name ?)