RE: Triassic mammal-like reptiles?

["Thomas R. Holtz, Jr." <tholtz@geol.umd.edu>]

> From: owner-dinosaur@usc.edu [mailto:owner-dinosaur@usc.edu]On Behalf Of
> Dora Smith
>
> I consistently see them called "mammal like reptiles".

The phrase "mammal-like reptiles" is still used by most non-specialists, and by 
others who haven't made the conversion to cladistic
thinking.

Bakker has offered the alternative "protomammal", which I prefer in my kid's 
book writing. Again, not wholly accurate, as there is a
greater diversity to non-mammalian synapsids than those which gave rise to 
mammals (sort of like calling all dinosaurs
"protobirds"...), but still far better than the now-misleading phrase 
"mammal-like reptiles".

                Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
        Senior Lecturer, Vertebrate Paleontology
Department of Geology           Director, Earth, Life & Time Program
University of Maryland          College Park Scholars
        Mailing Address:
                Building 237, Room 1117
                College Park, MD  20742

http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/
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Phone:  301-405-4084    Email:  tholtz@geol.umd.edu
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