Re: Amniota to Mammalia in four easy steps

["T. Michael Keesey" <mightyodinn@yahoo.com>]

--- John Conway <john_conway@mac.com> wrote:
> I need to construct a cladogram (aimed at children) that encompasses the 
> Amniota and gets to the level of Mammalia. Unfortunately, it needs to be 
> done with just four nodes/stems. Obviously, I am going to have to leave 
> off a lot, but my synapsid knowledge being what it is, I am at a 
> complete loss.
> 
> Any help with synapsid phylogeny would be greatly appreciated, as would 
> any suggestions on how to construct the abbreviated cladogram.

How about:

Synapsida
`--Therapsida
   `--Cynodontia
      `--Mammalia

Then explain thusly:

_Synapsida_ includes sprawling things like _Dimetrodon_ (maybe introduce 
_Casea_, _Edaphosaurus_
etc. if you have pictures) as well as _Therapsida_.

_Therapsida_ includes more upright creatures with more clearly differentiated 
teeth, like
_Moschops_, _Placerias_ (from WWD), and _Cynodontia_.

_Cynodontia_ includes small mammal-like animals such as _Cynognathus_ (also 
from WWD) as well as
_Mammalia_ itself.

_Mammalia_ includes monotremes (platypus, echidna), marsupials (pouched animals 
like kangaroos and
opossums), and placentals (the rest - sum up according to taste)

Critiques and further suggestions welcome. No synapsid expert I.


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