Re: "Neomammals" (arising out of Neoaves discussion)

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Tommy Tyrberg wrote:

> Aepyornithidae
> Aptornithidae
> Teratornithidae
> Dromornithidae
> Dinornithidae
> Anomalopterygidae
>
> Most of these should be recoverable.

Theoretically.  But it's not always easy.  Nevertheless, this has been done 
for Dinornithidae and Aepyornithidae...

Cooper A., Lalueza-Fox C., Anderson S., Rambaut A., Austin J., and Ward R. 
(2001).  Complete mitochondrial genome sequences of two extinct moas clarify 
ratite evolution.  Nature 409: 704-707.

They obtained complete mitochondrial genomes for two moas genera 
(_Dinornis_, _Emeus_), and a 1000bp stretch of mitochondrial sequence from 
an elephant-bird (_Mullerornis_).  I'm guessing that the elephant-bird was a 
tough one.

Cheers

Tim