Re: definition of dinosaur

["King, Norm" <nking.ucs@smtp.usi.edu>]

Mickey Rowe said (02/22/96; 6:27p):

>You have to remember to make a distinction between *definition* of a
>taxon and *diagnosis* of a taxon.  

OK, I've hit this problem before.

I think I have it now:

     1.  A diagnosis, in any taxonomic scheme, tells you what is actually
         there.

     2.  A cladistic definition does not.

     3.  Cladistic definitions are better than diagnosis-based 
definitions.



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Norman R. King                                       tel:  (812) 464-1794
Department of Geosciences                            fax:  (812) 464-1960
University of Southern Indiana
8600 University Blvd.
Evansville, IN 47712                      e-mail:  nking.ucs@smtp.usi.edu