Re: Turtles and Crocodylians are not Reptiles - no? What are they?

[David Marjanovic <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

> I know that lizards adn salamanders don't belong together.  So do most
> people I know.   One is a reptile and the other is an amphibian.   Of
> course, I do know an unusually high proportion of people who can read.

I find myself explaining it all the time, and so does this 
http://www.livescience.com/animals/080103-new-salamanders.html news report.

> I remembered since yesterday that crocodiles MUST be reptiles if dinosaurs
> are reptiles, because they're very closely related to dinosaurs and have 
> teh
> same advanced brain structure.   (Unlike dem tynaptids whose brains 
> contain
> mostly empty space filled with water.)

What do you mean?

> This discussion is starting to sound like some scientists proving that hte 
> synapsid brain contains mostly empty space adn water.    ;)   The bird 
> brains in the big cage behind me are nodding their heads knowingly. 
> Particularly since they've just been categorized out of existence.

???

> But if dinosaurs aren't reptiles - is there such a thing?

Such a thing as what?

Maybe you're asking for this set of labels for the (highly simplified) tree:

Tetrapoda
 |--Amphibia
 `--Amniota
      |--Synapsida/Theropsida
      `--Sauropsida
           |--Testudines
           `--Diapsida
                |--Lepidosauria
                |    |--*Sphenodon*
                |    `--Squamata
                `--Archosauria
                     |--Crocodylia
                     `--Aves