Re: Presbyornis, Diatryma, and dromornithids (was Re: The duck that ruled the...

[NJPharris@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/26/2000 2:54:46 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com writes:

> Interesting point.  My guess is that they probably weren't closely related, 
>  since _Diatryma_ (a gastornithid, perhaps even the same as _Gastornis_) 
like 
> 
>  brontornithids and phororhacids are usually thought to be related to 
modern 
>  Gruiformes (cranes, rails, coots).

Actually, the most common opinion I've heard bandied about lately is that the 
gastornithids belong somewhere in the Galloanserae.

Nick P.