Re: Hoatzin & Archaeopteryx

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

David Marjanovic wrote:

> The name Archaeopterygidae exists. It just wasn't used for decades because 
> it was thought to contain nothing but Archie itself.

Archaeopterygidae is still used in Linnaean hierarchial classifications, 
which typically included redundant suprageneric names (e.g, 
Archaeopterygidae, Archaeopterygiformes).   In the 1980's, _Jurapteryx_ was 
thought by some researchers to be separate, thereby providing the 
Archaeopterygidae with an additional genus.

> > However, _Archaeopteryx_ still holds the honor as the oldest
> > undisputed bird.
>
> If we define "bird" in a way that potentially includes dromaeosaurs and 
> probably oviraptorosaurs... and if we can keep *Epidendrosaurus* out. 
> Otherwise I don't agree with "undisputed". :-)

I'm not sure what you mean here.  If "bird" is defined to include 
dromaeosaurs and oviraptorosaurs, _Archaeopteryx_ is still the oldest 
undisputed bird.  I don't know of any others.  As for _Epidendrosaurus_, 
you're assuming a Middle Jurassic age for this critter; I think this will 
change.



Tim