My classification of coelurosaurs

["Ken Kinman" <kinman@hotmail.com>]

Dear All,
    I decided to begin seriously contructing a cladisto-eclectic 
classification of Order Saurischiformes.  Below is my preliminary 
classification of coelurosaurs, plus its immediate allosaurid sister group 
(so it is really a classification of the avetheropod clade).
    Please note that I recognize broader families (as traditionalists tend 
to do).  Perhaps the tyrannosaur implosion of genera could translate into a 
slight implosion of family taxa as well (more like mine)?  In any case, 
comments are welcome.
                    -----Ken Kinman
Order Saurischiformes (in part)
             ......
     4   Allosauridae (= Carnosauria sensu stricto)
    5A   Ornitholestidae (possibly paraphyletic)
     B   Compsognathidae
     6   Tyrannosauridae
     ?   Coeluridae
     7   Ornithomimidae
     8   Therizinosauridae
     9   Caudipter(yg)idae
    _a_  Oviraptoridae
    10A  Alvarezsauridae
     B   Avimimidae
    11   Troodontidae (position very uncertain)
    12   Dromaeosauridae (= Deinonychosauria)
    13   Plesion _Rahonavis_
    14   {{Aves}}
*****************************************************
NOTES:  For those of you who recognize a single clade for Therizinosauridae, 
Caudipteridae, and Oviraptoridae---- you would simply change the 9 to 8B 
(and then renumber 10-14 to 9-13).  The capital letters indicate subclades 
(the main clades are numbered in the order they split off).   The coding 
symbol _a_ shows that Oviraptoridae is an exgroup from Caudipteridae.  You 
could combine them into an expanded holophyletic Oviraptoridae, but I 
wouldn't recommend this (because it could become doubly paraphyletic if the 
cladograms change significantly).  Also note that I only put in one plesion, 
but others may be added when the classification is completed.  And the 
{{Aves}} marker shows the cladistic placement the exgroup Class Aves.  
Sister group "nesting" is not sacrificed as in traditional eclectic 
classifications.
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