Re: Dinosaur Taxonomy (was Re: Re: dinosaur flatware)

[Stan Friesen <swf@ElSegundoCA.ATTGIS.COM>]

From: pharrinj@PLU.edu
 >I never claimed that the Herrerasauria (or any other parataxon) COULN'T 
 >be diagnosed, just that it SHOULD'T, for the simple reason that, if the 
 > Herrerasauria is paraphyletic, then they are not each other's closest 
 > relatives.
 > 
 > As I said, the whole argument becomes moot if one allows parataxa.

Which I do.  And so does George Olshevsky (though he tends to use
them less than I do).

In fact the way I define Herrerasauria it probably includes basal
Dinosauria! [more or less: small to mid-sized carnivorous dinosaurs
with four functional toes].

swf@elsegundoca.attgis.com              sarima@netcom.com

The peace of God be with you.