Re: SIMILAR BIRD TRACKS 70 MILLION YEARS APART

["Jaime A. Headden" <qilongia@yahoo.com>]

  In response to Ray's query about the phylogenetic similarities of the Green 
River and his own
Maryland discoveries (publication, Ray, publication! You have so many things to 
publish! haha -- I
wonder, do they write "jaja" in Germany?) I would like to underscore the term 
"parataxonomy" when
dealing with footprints. They are not intended to reflect actual bone fossil 
peservation and the
evolution thereupon; instead, they reflect phenotypic diversity, whether or not 
it is phylogenetic
as well. As the same type of foot, divergence, etc., is found in two different 
sites, I would
first look at the relative sizes and the habitats. As the Green River is 
predominently sandstone,
this would be a beach shore or sandy fluviatile environment, whereas the 
mudstones and claystones
of the Mayrland basins would suggest something muckier, a lacustrine or similar 
structure of
water. As clay forms from accumulated flat-land erosion, this would suggest the 
type of land and
habitat were a bit different. However, what kinds of birds are found in both 
types of habitat? I
consider and suggest that this phenotypism reflects the morphology of the foot, 
but in birds, this
can be easily convergent and does not suggest phylogenetic similarity.

  This reply is in no way intended to be levelled at Ray. I have nothing 
against the man -- darn
tootin'! This is justa  list reply to a thread.


=====
Jaime A. Headden

  Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhr-gen-ti-na
  Where the Wind Comes Sweeping Down the Pampas!!!!

__________________________________________________
Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help?
Donate cash, emergency relief information
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/US/Emergency_Information/