At 02:50 PM 31/07/00 -0700, Betty Cunningham wrote:
In addition to 'most' paleontologists, 'most' ornthologists agree that
there is a very strong arguement for the origin for birds having arisen
from dinosaurs.
We ought to remember that even those who oppose the dinosaur-bird link
accept that birds arose somewhere within the Archosauria, so even if
Feduccia is right Reptilia would still be paraphyletic if birds were
excluded, and birds are still more closely related to crocodiles than
either are to geckos if you think phylogenetically.
Mr Lurio seems to be under the impression that taxonomic categories operate
as awards of merit rather than scientific descriptors. Birds are still
wonderful even if they are reduced to subfamilial status within the
Oviraptoridae (say), and they are monophyletic. How could rating Aves at
below the Class level change that? Are primatologists any less interested
in primates because they "only" comprise an order?
--
Ronald I. Orenstein Phone: (905) 820-7886
International Wildlife Coalition Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116
1825 Shady Creek Court
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 3W2 mailto:ornstn@home.com