Re: miscellaneous questions

[jdharris@csn.net (Jerry D. Harris)]

>I was trying to be more specific.  I am saying I do not think he
>good at determining *phylogenetic relationships*.  Just that, no
>more. On anatomy in general he is probably competent enough. He
>just can't seem to distinguish a true synapomorphy froma convergence.

        OK, gotcha!  I see what you mean now!  I agree, too:  maybe he
oughta draw the line (no pun intended!  8-)  ) at inferring
relationships...

>It seems to me that the conclusion that we should be drawing is that
>poposaurids were generally *ecologically* convergent with the more
>higly derived theropods.

        Even more than that!  From what little I know of poposaurids, much
fragmentary material of their fossils has been attributed to primitive
theropods, and vice-versa.  It's a really interesting group...


Jerry D. Harris
Denver Museum of Natural History
2001 Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO  80205
(303) 370-6403
Internet:  jdharris@teal.csn.net
CompuServe:  73132,3372

--)::)>   '''''''''''''/O\'''''''''''`  Jpq--   =o}\   w---^/^\^o

Overheard in the Denver Museum's
old Fossil Mammal Hall, from a mother
to her daugher:

"See there?  That's the camel-dinosaur, and
the horse-dinosaur, and the elephant-dinosaur..."

--)::)>   '''''''''''''/O\'''''''''''`  Jpq--   =o}\   w---^/^\^o