Re: ARCHAEOPTERYX IS A BIRD DERN IT!!!

["Jonathan R. Wagner" <znc14@ttacs1.ttu.edu>]

I wrote (quoting Pete):
>>So what do we have that is a good diagnostic character of the Avialae/Aves
>>clade?  Yes, that's right, loss of the cranial process of the pubic boot,
>>appearence of the proximodorsal process of the ischium, and distal migration
>>of the obturator process of the ischium.
>        First is rejected pending evidence (and is present in non-avian
>_Unenlagia_),
        WRONGO: This is rejected because you point out that it is present in
non-avian _Unenlagia_. The presence of this character in _Compsognathus_
would not (by my interpretation) negate the fact that it might be diagnostic
of Aves (sensu Cracraft, Hutchinson pers. com.) but would impair its
"diagnostic utility".

>second is pretty good (but also present in _Unenlagia_),
        Ergo, rejected as diagnostic of Aves.

>third needs some justification.
        But might still be diagnostic of Aves, depending on the interpretation.

        Sorry for being unclear...

        Wagner
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    Jonathan R. Wagner, Dept. of Geosciences, TTU, Lubbock, TX 79409-1053
        "Chimp here does the killing." - Doug Mackenzie