Re: Taxonomic levels in birds

["Nicholas J. Pharris" <pharrinj@PLU.edu>]

On Sun, 4 Feb 1996 Dinogeorge@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 96-02-04 17:24:49 EST, pharrinj@PLU.edu (Nicholas J.
> Pharris) writes:
> 
> >No; I was listing them in increasing order.  I listed them that way so 
> >people could follow my thinking more easily.
> >
> >
> 
> You include Aves within Avialae? What else is in Avialae along with Aves?
> 

Yes, unlike you, George, I restrict Aves to the Arctometatarsalia and the 
Euaves, the latter including the Alvarezsauridae, the Enantiornithes, and 
the Ornithurae.

Along with the Aves, Avialae contains the Archaeopterygiformes, which 
includes the Archaeopterygidae and the Dromaeosauridae.

The Avialae and the Oviraptorosauria (Elmisauridae, Oviraptoridae, and, 
*tentatively*, the Therizinosauroidea) are included in the Ornithomorpha.

The Ornithomorpha and Ornitholestidae form the Maniraptora (although I 
should probably rename this taxon--perhaps Avecheires?)

Finally, the "Maniraptora" and, probably, the Dryptosauridae form the 
Coelurosauria.

This is just my slant on things.

Nick Pharris
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA 98447
(206)535-8204
PharriNJ@PLU.edu

"If you can't convince them, confuse them." -- Harry S. Truman