Re: Coelurosaur Analysis update, with Graciliraptor, Atrociraptor, Sinusonasus,

[David Marjanovic <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

> Note I used the definitions of Aves and Avialae sensu Chiappe (1996) and
> Gauthier (1986) (Aves = Archaeopteryx lithographica + Vultur gryphus;
> Avialae = Vultur gryphus <- Deinonychus antirrhopus).

Oh! Usage of the 1986 definition has become so rare that I didn't get the
idea you could have used it. :-]

> [...] Avialae sensu Gauthier
> and de Queiroz (2001) is (feathered wings homologous with Vultur gryphus
and
> used for powered flight), which would be the Omnivoropterygidae + Aves
node
> in my topology.  Assuming neoflightlessness for Caudipteryx, it could
> potentially be much more inclusive.  Hence the crappiness of
apomorphy-based
> clades.

(Gauthier, pers. comm., is not concerned much with the applicability of
names. He writes it isn't necessary that everything can be told to belong
respectively not to belong to a clade, which is in principle obvious, and
generalizes it.)

> > Whew. Your analysis is already on par with the biggest published ones!
>
> Yup, yet look how much I don't trust it.  It has interesting implications
> for how much I should trust any cladistic analysis.

Of course.

> > I think in the last 10 runs of your analysis you've discovered all
things
> > I ever KNEW about coelurosaur phylogeny. :-)
>
> I recommend taking Wilson's coding strategies to heart then, for it's they
> who are responsible.

Ouch!

>                         `--+--+--Archaeornithoides
>                            |  `--+--+--Therizinosaurus
>                            |     |  `--+--Mononykinae
>                            |     |     `--+--Patagonykus
>                            |     |        `--Alvarezsaurus
>                            |     `--[Ornithomimosauria]
>                            `--Maniraptora

More familiar...

> Maniraptora
> |--+--+--Caudipteryx zoui
> |  |  `--Caudipteryx sp. nov.
> |  `--+--+--Nomingia
> |     |  `--+--Incisivosaurus
> |     |     `--+--Caenagnathidae
> |     |        `--+--Microvenator
> |     |           `--Oviraptoridae
> |     |--Yixianosaurus
> |     `--+--+--Beipiaosaurus
> |        |  `--Nothronychus
> |        `--+--Alxasaurus
> |           `--+--Nanshiungosaurus
> |              `--+--Segnosaurus
> |                 `--+--Neimongosaurus
> |                    `--Erliansaurus

You've almost restored "Enigmosauria" this way, without segnosaurs and
oviraptorosaurs being entangled anymore. Congratulations! :o)

> `--+--+--Erlikosaurus
>    |  `--Avimimus

An artifact because their skulls are known? :-]

Good (?) to see that *Variraptor* is back among the dromies. Interesting how
*Rahonavis* hops back to its usual place... *Liaoningornis* is in a weird
place, though.

>                         `--+--Catalan nestling

A priori I'd guess it's just too young that it could fall into a resolved
place in a cladogram... would explain why it jumps around so much in your
trees.

I guess adding foot characters could bring Enantiornithes back.

>                                       `--+--Songlingornis
>                                          `--+--Patagopteryx
>                                             `--+--+--Yanornis
>                                                |  `--Ornithurae
>                                                `--+--Ambiortus
>                                                   `--+--Apsaravis
>                                                      `--Yixianornis

How did you get *Yanornis* and *Yixianornis* that far apart?

> Interesting how ordering philosophies change topologies.

Had to be expected.