Re: Segnosaurs ejected from AVES

["Ken Kinman" <kinman@hotmail.com>]

    To tell you truth Jaime, one reason I don't like the name Maniraptora 
for the whole group is that most birds don't go around "manuraptoring" their 
food.  And it is not apomorphy-based, so not exactly equivalent in any case. 
 Anyway, don't get too upset too fast, because this is an example of the 
"real world" of eclecticism in action.  You might even end up finding that a 
little eclecticism is advantageous in the end.  It might be a little 
uncomfortable, but often "no pain means no gain".  Give it a chance.
     I would be interested to know how Beipiaosaurus would be coded with 
your six semilunate characteristics.  It's possible that segnosaurs (sans 
Beipiaosaurus) split off first, and that Beipiaosaurus then split off 
between them and the rest of the "true" semilunate forms.  In other words, 
Segnosauriformes sensu lato could be paraphyletic, and perhaps Beipaiosaurus 
represents the transition to the "true semilunate".
     I would also be interested to know if Beipiaosaurus had a convex 
coracoid glenoid, as that transition seems to be occurring around the same 
time.  So don't get too upset, because I think eclecticists and cladists can 
learn from each other when they cooperate.  I just don't think "strictly 
cladistic" science is the only best way to discover true phylogenies.  This 
is a great experiment, and we might all learn something.
        ------ Cheers,  Ken



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