Re: What is a dinosaur?

["Cunningham, Betty" <bcunning@nssi.com>]

     >What is a dinosaur?  Ask anyone, and he/she will describe it (provide 
     >a sort of diagnosis).<snip>Of course, in dinosaur paleontology we 
     >need exactly the kind of definition Dinogeorge supplied. 
     
        I think that the 'saurian' definition comes closest to a general 
     word that would include all prehistoric air-breathing animals who's 
     lines became extinct at or prior to the KT.  As far as I can tell, 
     there is no general-usage name for this particular group of animals 
     and it is THIS that leads most to the mis-use of 'dinosaur' to cover 
     all such groups....
        The term "prehistoric mammals" in general usage seems to easily 
     cover the mammals that lived just after, bringing in the 'Age of 
     Mammals", (and somehow easily ignoring the mammals that were extant 
     BEFORE the KT), and "Ice Age Mammals" is really esy for most to 
     picture, but 'prehistoric reptiles' does NOT cover the group mentioned 
     earlier from before the KT.
        What does?  Does 'saurian' work well enough for a general usage of 
     this?  Can we decide to MAKE 'saurian' the correct word for this?
        Furthermore, what do we do for a general usage word for animals 
     alive BEFORE the 'Age of Dinosaurs' that are not included in the 
     definition, 'saurian', such as Synapsids?  "Primitive land animals" 
     seems much too vague and general to lead people to a clear 
     understanding of the topic.
       Suggestions?
     
     -Betty Cunningham