Re: What is a dinosaur?

[pharrinj@PLU.edu]

On Fri, 12 Jan 1996, Cunningham, Betty wrote:

> 
>      
>      >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 

nor, IMHO, should there be...

>         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?

In _The Dinosaur Heresies_, Bakker uses the term "protomammal" (for 
therapsids, at least), and it seems to me that this would work quite 
well, especially for emphasizing the extreme age of our own lineage.

>      
>      -Betty Cunningham
>      
> 

     Nick Pharris
     Pacific Lutheran University