Re: Croc classification (was Re: Sarcosuchus and Dumbing things down)

["Demetrios M Vital" <vita0015@umn.edu>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Salisbury" <steve_salisbury@BIGPOND.COM>
To: "Dinolist" <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2001 7:16 PM
Subject: Croc classification (was Re: Sarcosuchus and Dumbing things down)

> >Does it have a cladistic definition?
>
> Yes, but who cares.

Obviously, HP Marjanovic.  I think that's obvious.

> Or 'we' could just forget about Crocodylia all together, dispense with the
> idea of crown groups being all important, go back to a system that worked
> for 130 years and get on with something more productive.

The idea of a flat Earth worked for a long time too, but things change.
Science changes.

I understand most of cladistics, but can someone briefly explain "crown
groups"?  Preferably a cladist; having an anti-cladist describe cladism is
like having a flat-Earther explain gravity, or a creationist explain natural
selection (not discussing either of those!!!!, just an example...).

Thanks,

Demetrios Vital