Synapsids and Basal Reptiles (was: Re: Elvis, Sue, and a guy who's Bi)

["Dave L. Hardenbrook" <DaveH47@delphi.com>]

At 06:47 AM 4/18/98 -0700, Matthew Troutman wrote:
>Lower Permian basal reptile, with some features of the diadectomorphs 
>and a few other mosaic features of basal amniotes. Reptilian-type tarsal 
>bones and araeoscelidian reptile-like vertebral column. Disproportionate 
>limb length is indicative of bipedal or climbing habits. 

Are Araeoscelids considered the most primitive of all amniotes, even more
primitive than _Hylonomus_ and _Limnoscelis_, and that's why Synapsida is
placed outside the Reptilia clade?

My struggles to catch up with the last ten years of paleontological
discoveries
continue...


                             -- Dave

************************************************************************
 Dave Hardenbrook, DaveH47@delphi.com, http://people.delphi.com/DaveH47/  

   "We have enough food to last thirty thousand years but we've only 
    got one After Eight mint left.  And everyone's too polite to take it."

                        -- Holly the computer, from _Red Dwarf_