RE: Shoehorning (Augury and Alvarezsauria)

["Williams, Tim" <TiJaWi@agron.iastate.edu>]

Ken Kinman wrote:

>      And if you don't believe me about destability in cladistic 
> classifications, then read the words of Norman Platnick (a cladist).


>From the speech in question:

"It seems that there are at least two motivations behind this movement,
which I'm ashamed to say was originated by two herpetologists from the U.S.,
Kevin De Queiroz and Jacques Gauthier.  One motivation, seemingly, is just
to find some way to salvage non-monophyletic groups like Reptilia and
Dinosauria, so that herpetologists are not inconvenienced by increased
understanding of amniote interrelationships."  

Yeah, it all makes sense now: It's all just a herpetological conspiracy.  If
only Fox Mulder wasn't MIA, we could finally get to the bottom of this.


     
Tim



------------------------------------------------------------

Timothy J. Williams

USDA-ARS Researcher
Agronomy Hall
Iowa State University
Ames IA 50014

Phone: 515 294 9233
Fax:   515 294 3163