Re: Opisthocoelicaudia and cladistics (was Re: Titanosaurids) (long)

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/23/02 5:29:36 PM EST, TiJaWi@agron.iastate.edu writes:

<< This cuts both ways.  The bifid neural spines had a purpose too (yeah,
 that's right - they weren't just there for decoration).  The functions
 ascribed to bifurcation of the neural spine imply that this character be
 expressed serially down the column (or a section of it), so I don't think
 it's valid to score each individual vertebra as an isolated character. >>

Oh, yes it is. There are sauropod columns with just a few bifid vertebrae and 
there are sauropod columns in which practically all the vertebrae are bifid. 
Each vertebra needs to be scored individually.

And I think this is seven posts for today. Good-bye!