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Re: Sapeornis and other Mesozoic Birds
On 9/13/06, T. Michael Keesey <keesey@gmail.com> wrote:
The problem with Benton's form is that if some other vertebrate group
developed flight feathers and wings convergently with those of
avialans, and the other group developed them first, the content would
completely shift. Gauther and de Queiroz' definition, OTOH, is linked
to a specific taxon (Vultur gryphus) which it can never exclude.
I do not worry much about that (actually, as far as remember - but do
not rely on my memory, I'm not getting much phosphorus in my diet -
Benton criticize those definitions...).
Let's say that _Vultur gryphus_ was preocupied by a beetle, any
definition based on _V. gryphus_ would shift too if we do not ammend
the definition. Or, let's say _V. gryphus_ is removed to a highly
derived pterosaur clade, the effect would be the same (well, except
for the _V. gryphus_ itself).
[]s,
Roberto Takata