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Re: Status of _Caudipteryx_


Jaime,
Just how closely flying lemurs are related to any particular groups of bats is controversial (although both groups are regarded as belonging to a single clade Archonta (along with primates and tree shrews, as well as plesiadapiforms if one wishes to separate them from primates).
However, I would say that the vast majority of groups of organisms are primitively or primarily flightless, and I'm sure even Dinogeorge would agree that this applies to ornithischian and sauropodomorph dinosaurs. I don't understand how you can say that there is no such thing as a primitively flightless organism or primitively flightless dinosaurs. Eric's statements perhaps deserve to be challenged, but this seems to be a very odd way of doing it. Therefore, I am more inclined to challenge your statements than his.
------Ken Kinman
******************************************************** 
From: "Jaime A. Headden" <qilongia@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: qilongia@yahoo.com
To: dinosaur@usc.edu
Subject: Re: Status of _Caudipteryx_
Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2000 20:28:55 -0800 (PST)

Eric Lurio (at ELurio@aol.com) wrote:

<Not neccessarily. The so-called "flying lemurs" are primitively
flightless, and I've read that they may be closely related to fruit
bats.>

  There is no such thing as a primitively or "primarily" flightless
organism, because no animal trends towards a state with the intent to
reach it, such as the ability to fly. Appling a possible conclusion
doesn't mean the a posteriori conclusion applies to an organism. Okay
... dinosaurs are not primarily flightless, and no dinosaur will be,
even birds.

  End rant,

=====
Jaime A. Headden

  Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhr-gen-ti-na
  Where the Wind Comes Sweeping Down the Pampas!!!!

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