Re: Dino Birds (was Re: Dinosaur = extinct animal)

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/12/99 2:22:05 PM EST, cbrochu@fmppr.fmnh.org writes:

<< Since I no longer recognize Linnean ranks, it is meaningless for me to
 consider the "genus" to be some sort of taxonomic rank.  This is part of
 why I no longer consider "genera" to be taxa as such - a genus name may
 refer to a taxon, but need not do so.  >>

Surprisingly, I could get behind a concerted effort to deconstruct Linnaean 
taxonomy. For starters, we abolish all taxonomic ranks from kingdom to 
species, then declare all Linnaean taxa that lack a phylogenetic definition 
to be vernacular (this would include practically all genera). Finally--and 
this would be the hard part--we construct the Tree of Life cladogram and 
phylogenetically define all the clades in it. Given about a hundred dedicated 
taxonomists, it's doable. Probably won't happen, however, at least until the 
present generation of taxonomists becomes extinct. But it's an interesting 
thought.