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Mark A. NorellChairman & Curator-in-Charge, Fossil Reptiles, Amphibians, and Birds Ph.D., Yale University, 1988 "Cladistic Approaches to Evolution and Paleobiology as Applied to the Phylogeny of Alligators" RESEARCHDr. Norell works in several areas of specimen-based and theoretical research. He works on the description and relationships of coelurosaurs and studies elements of the Asian Mesozoic fauna. He analyzes important new "feathered" dinosaurs from Liaoning, China, and develops theoretical methods for better understanding phylogenetic relationships and pattern in the fossil record. Under his co-direction with Michael Novacek, a team of paleontologists working in the Gobi desert since 1990 has produced a wealth of great specimens. This has led to the development of a new phylogenetic hypothesis for coelurosaurian theropods. Generally this hypothesis conforms to traditional arrangements, with a few notable exceptions. These larger analyses have allowed more discreet analyses of both troodontids and dromaeosaurs. Dr. Norell makes frequent visits to northern China, where work has begun recently on spectacular fossil material. This material includes the first report of true-feathered theropods, detailed analyses of primitive avialans, the description of a feathered dromaeosaur, and other faunal elements. Several new and exciting animals are currently being described. Similar studies have been carried out on fossil lizards and champsosaurs from this region. The lizard fauna is remarkable because of its diversity and due to the large number of taxa embedded within modern clades. Work on these animals has led Dr. Norell's team to discover some aspects of anguimorph phylogeny, to recognize new clades of lizards, to phylogenetically place problematic taxa, and to describe poorly known taxa based on new material. Dr. Norell's theoretical work focuses on developing methodology for evaluating the effect of missing data on large data sets, sensitivity methods for character weighting, and using phylogeny to estimate patterns in the fossil record such as diversity and extinction. He also studies the relationship between stratigraphic position and phylogenetic topology. RECENT SIGNIFICANT PUBLICATIONSNorell, M. A., J. M. Clark, and P. J. Makovicky. "Relationships Among Maniraptora: Problems and Prospects." Yale Peabody Museum, special volume honoring John Ostrom (in press). Norell, M .A., P. J. Makovicky, and P. J. Currie. "The Beaks of Ostrich Dinosaurs." Nature (in press). Ji, Q., M. A. Norell, K.-Q. Gao, S.-A. Ji, and D. Ren. "The Distribution of Integumentary Structures in a Feathered Dinosaur." Nature 410 (2001): 1084-1088. Norell, M. A., and J. Clarke. "A New Fossil Near the Base of Aves." Nature 409 (2001): 181-184. Norell, M. A., J. M. Clark, and L. M. Chiappe. "An Embryo of an Oviraptorid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Ukhaa Tolgod, Mongolia." American Museum Novitates 3315 (2001): 17 pp. Norell, M.A., P. Makovicky, and J. M. Clark. "A New Troodontid from Ukhaa Tolgod, Late Cretaceous, Mongolia." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Rapid Communication 20, no. 1 (2000): 7-11. Norell, M .A., L. Dingus, and E. S. Gaffney. Discovering Dinosaurs (2nd edition with 9 new sections). Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000. Norell, M. A., and P. Makovicky. "Important Features of the Dromaeosaur Skeleton II: Information From Newly Collected Specimens of Velociraptor mongoliensis." American Museum Novitates 3282 (1999): 45 pp. PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
OTHER PROFESSIONAL HONORS
Graduate Students and Scientific Assistants
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