Re: [Re: [Re: Non-serpentine lacertids (was RE:WHAT'S GOING ON?)]]

[ELurio@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/5/00 7:04:56 PM, tmk@dinosauricon.com writes:

<< > Why does calling a robin an avialan and a dinosaur Ok because it reflects
> ancestry, but calling it an avialan and a reptile depends on context?
> 
> Shouldn't they both depend on context?

They're both completely valid -- the question of which to state is a
matter of context. >>

Calling birds reptiles is invalid for two reasons, reptiles in the tradtional 
sense is a very different beast than a bird, i.e., reptiles are ectothermic 
and birds are not, reptiles have three and a fraction chambered hearts, and 
birds have four chambered hearts....we can go on and on.

The reason that some say birds are reptiles is completely political, which is 
why amniote is a far superior term.

eric l.