Re: smallest ANCIENT non-bird dinosaur - was what I was asking

["T. Michael Keesey" <keesey@gmail.com>]

On Fri, May 2, 2008 at 3:27 AM, Adam <adam@crowlspace.com> wrote:
> Hi Mike
>
>  What difference does "stem-" make?

A stem-X is not an X. But is more closely related to X than to
anything else alive.

> Especially when communicating the reality of evolution to the sceptical 
> public, for example.

Calling this thing a "whale" stretches credibility:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pakicetus.gif

A "whale relative", yes. A "whale", no.

Besides, stem groups are a reality of evolution.
-- 
T. Michael Keesey
Director of Technology
Exopolis, Inc.
2894 Rowena Avenue Ste. B
Los Angeles, California 90039
http://exopolis.com/
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