Re: hominid species

[Stan Friesen <swf@ElSegundoCA.ATTGIS.COM>]

>From: "Bonnie Blackwell, x 3332" <bonn@qcvaxa.acc.qc.edu>
 > 
 > most workers who specialize in hominid evolution do not recognize 
 > more than 3 species of Homo, namely H. sapiens, H. erectus, and H. habilis.

I know this.  However I have what I consicer to be nearly conclusive
evidence that neandertals belong in a seperate species from modern
Homo sapiens.  From there it is just a small step to treat the
"archaic Homo sapiens" group as a seperate species as well (or,
alternatively, to place it in a greatly expanded H. neanderthalensis).
 
 >  The currently accepted species of Australopithecus
 > are: A. ramidans (only reported in fall, 95), A. afarensis (lucy et al),
 > A. africanus, A. robustus ..., A. boisei ... .
 > 
 > very few workers in hominid evolution would use the term "grade" to refer
 > to branches along the homind tree or cladogram.

My point, however, was that I do not believe these are all on
seperate branches!  In cladistic terminology, this makes those
groups that are ancestral to later groups "grades".

In particular, I am firmly of the opinion that the ancestors of
all later species of Homo can be found among the various morphs
traditionally assigned to Homo habilis.  This makes H. habilis
a grade.

Then, since I nelieve the set of specimens assigned to it to
represent two or more species, I prefer not to actually refer to
H. habilis as such, unless I really mean it in the restricted sense.
Thus I use the term "habiline grade fossils" to refer to those
specimens traditionally assigned to H. habilis, without actually
having to get specific about species assignments.


Also, with A. ramidans included in Australopithecus, I am fairly
certain that it includes the ancestor of most of the later species
of hominids, including Homo.  That makes Australopithecus a grade
in the cladistic sense.


[Note, I do NOT follow the cladistic rule that a taxon cannot be
paraphyletic, so I am still perfectly happy to retain Australpithecus
as a genus].

swf@elsegundoca.attgis.com              sarima@netcom.com

The peace of God be with you.