FLAMINGOES ARE STILTS

[darren.naish@port.ac.uk]

Matt Troutman wrote..

>  But a strong case for the relations of flamingos lies largely in 
> the behaviors  they share with stilts, which are too unique 
> to be thought to be  convergences.  (I find the similiar 
> nesting and feeding behaviors very convincing, no matter
> what Joel Cracraft says.)  

The 'flamingoes are derived recurvirostrids' case is better than this 
because it is supported by derived characters (see Olson and 
Feduccia) and the presence of primitive fossil phoenicopteriformes 
(like Messel _Juncitarsus_) that are also very like recurvirostrids. 

> Moreover, IIRC parasitic taxa are not found 
> among galliforms, loons, or waterfowl,

I'm not sure who wrote the above (it wasn't Matt), but there is, at 
least, a parasitic anseriform. Parasitic galliforms and gaviiforms 
are unknown though. 

Matt also said..

> Anyone else think that Peter Houde was right when he said that 
> galliforms and tinamous were sister-groups?  

I think he was seeing primitive characters.. what do you think? 
Remember that galliforms are thought to outgroup to the Neoaves and 
thus apparently preserve characters otherwise seen only in 
palaeognaths.

"I'm comfortable chasing monsters"

DARREN NAISH
darren.naish@port.ac.uk