Re: Predentata

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

On Mon, 5 Feb 1996, Jeff Poling wrote:

>    It was recently mentioned Bakker and others use Predentata instead of
> Ornithischia.  I like this idea as it helps clear up some of the confusion
> between "bird-hips" and bird's hips.
> 
>    However, what does the Saurischia become?  The unDentata?  Nondentata?
> Antidentata?  Adentata?

Well, they have *teeth* (most of them anyway); they just don't have 
predentary bones (except, as someone noted, for some early birds).  I 
suppose the name would have to be Apredentata if you wanted to base it on 
this particular character.

I very much dislike the term Saurischia, BTW, based as it is on a 
plesiomorphous character.  There must be something better out there.  Too 
bad all the synapomorphies uniting this clade are so technical and hard 
to pick out.

<plug snipped>

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