On 04/12/2010 04:41 PM, Alain wrote:
> Also, the bone structure is very different than that of reptiles.

  Dinosaurs are classified under the reptile subclass of diapsids
precisely because of the features of the skulls. Other diapsids include
crocodiles, lizards, snakes, etc.

  The distinguishing feature of diapsids is that they have two holes in
each side of the skull, which birds don't have, and in fact, they have
quite a restructured skull compared to dinosaurs (although by modern
classification birds are still classified as diapsids because they have
evolved from ancient diapsids).

  I'd say that claiming that "dinosaurs were closer to modern birds than
to reptiles" is quite a stretch (especially since there were types of
dinosaurs other than theropods; for example, compare the skeleton of a
stegosaur and see how much it looks like a modern bird).

Post a reply to this message