DIATRYMIDS

["Matthew Troutman" <m_troutman@hotmail.com>]

According to Andors (he is a male, not a female) the enviroments of 
diatrymids were probably humid, well-vegetated backswamps.  I agree that 
the depositional evidence is not direct evidence that diatrymids 
inhabited swamps, but it does make the case more convincing that they 
occupied swamps; alluvial floodplains are usually wet in some (most) 
times of the year.  Of course, the big problem for me is whether Andors 
is trying to show that diatrymids inhabited actual swamps (standing 
water with trees) or marshes (no trees, little standing water, mostly 
grass).  He makes no distinction between the two and uses the terms 
alternately.  

Diatrymids are probably most closely related with anseriforms, possibly 
allied with anhimids (screamers).  Andors considered them intermediate 
between galliforms and anseriforms in osteology.  I am skeptical with 
this view and I think that most of the evidence points to a grouping 
within the Anseriformes.  

Matt Troutman

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