WDC DML 001
Encyclopedia
WDC DML 001 is an as-yet undescribed, substantially complete, fossil of a small troodontid dinosaur from the Late Jurassic
Morrison Formation
of east – central Wyoming. The presence of this derived maniraptoran in Jurassic sediments is a strong refutation of the "temporal paradox" (see Temporal paradox (paleontology)
) argument used by those who oppose the consensus view that birds evolved from dinosaurs. see Troodontidae
.
"Lori" will be described by Scott Hartman, David M. Lovelace, and William Wahl, and accessioned by the Wyoming Dinosaur Center
. Its discovery was announced at the 2003 annual meeting of the Society for Vertebrate Paleontology and a phylogenetic analysis which included it was presented in an abstract for the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
in 2005. The phylogenetic analysis placed the specimen as a close relative of Sinornithoides
.
In 2001, a field crew from the Tate Museum supervised by Wahl discovered the fossil in rocks of the Jimbo Quarry of the Morrison Formation
, overlying the excavation site of Supersaurus
vivianae, near Douglas, Wyoming
. The stratigraphic position of the site was carefully documented by the collectors and detailed in Lovelace, 2006.
Late Jurassic
The Late Jurassic is the third epoch of the Jurassic Period, and it spans the geologic time from 161.2 ± 4.0 to 145.5 ± 4.0 million years ago , which is preserved in Upper Jurassic strata. In European lithostratigraphy, the name "Malm" indicates rocks of Late Jurassic age...
Morrison Formation
Morrison Formation
The Morrison Formation is a distinctive sequence of Late Jurassic sedimentary rock that is found in the western United States, which has been the most fertile source of dinosaur fossils in North America. It is composed of mudstone, sandstone, siltstone and limestone and is light grey, greenish...
of east – central Wyoming. The presence of this derived maniraptoran in Jurassic sediments is a strong refutation of the "temporal paradox" (see Temporal paradox (paleontology)
Temporal paradox (paleontology)
The temporal paradox, or time problem is a controversial issue in the evolutionary relationships of birds. It was described by paleornithologist Alan Feduccia.-Objection to consensus:The concept of a "temporal paradox" is based on the following facts...
) argument used by those who oppose the consensus view that birds evolved from dinosaurs. see Troodontidae
Troodontidae
Troodontidae is a family of bird-like theropod dinosaurs. During most of the 20th century, troodontid fossils were few and scrappy and they have therefore been allied, at various times, with many dinosaurian lineages...
.
"Lori" will be described by Scott Hartman, David M. Lovelace, and William Wahl, and accessioned by the Wyoming Dinosaur Center
Wyoming Dinosaur Center
right|290px|thumb|Wyoming Dinosaur CenterThe Wyoming Dinosaur Center is located in Thermopolis, Wyoming and is one of the few dinosaur museums in the world to have its own excavation within driving distance...
. Its discovery was announced at the 2003 annual meeting of the Society for Vertebrate Paleontology and a phylogenetic analysis which included it was presented in an abstract for the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
The Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology was founded in 1980 at the University of Oklahoma by Dr. Jiri Zidek. It is a scientific journal that publishes original contributions on all aspects of the vertebrate paleontology, including vertebrate origins, evolution, functional morphology, taxonomy,...
in 2005. The phylogenetic analysis placed the specimen as a close relative of Sinornithoides
Sinornithoides
Sinornithoides is a genus of troodontid theropod dinosaur. It lived during the Early Cretaceous . It measured approximately 1 meter long...
.
In 2001, a field crew from the Tate Museum supervised by Wahl discovered the fossil in rocks of the Jimbo Quarry of the Morrison Formation
Morrison Formation
The Morrison Formation is a distinctive sequence of Late Jurassic sedimentary rock that is found in the western United States, which has been the most fertile source of dinosaur fossils in North America. It is composed of mudstone, sandstone, siltstone and limestone and is light grey, greenish...
, overlying the excavation site of Supersaurus
Supersaurus
Supersaurus is a genus of diplodocid sauropod dinosaur discovered by Vivian Jones of Delta, Colorado, in the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of Colorado in 1972. The fossil remains came from the Brushy Basin Member of the formation, dating to about 153 million years ago...
vivianae, near Douglas, Wyoming
Douglas, Wyoming
Douglas is a city in Converse County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 5,288 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Converse County...
. The stratigraphic position of the site was carefully documented by the collectors and detailed in Lovelace, 2006.