Taxon Search

[Michael Mortimer <mickey_mortimer111@msn.com>]

U've been really busy the last few days, so apologies if this was already 
presented to the list...

Sereno's database of proposed clades is up in a provisional form that covers 
stem archosaurs.  It's quite useful for finding the phylogenetic definitions 
that have been proposed for clades.

However, I have issues with which clades are presented as "active".  It's 
basically the clades Sereno uses.  So Tyrannoraptora is active, despite 
having an uncertain content (does it include compsognathids? Ornitholestes? 
arctometatarsalians?) and being rarely used in the literature outside of 
Sereno's works.  But Carnosauria is inactive, because he prefers to use 
Allosauroidea in order to avoid historical baggage and because 
non-allosauroid carnosaurians are disputed.  Despite the widespread use of 
Carnosauria, in such influential works as The Dinosauria 2nd ed..  
Similarly, Eusaurischia is inactive seemingly because Sereno thinks proposed 
non-eusaurischian saurischians are theropods.  But one point of phylogenetic 
nomenclature is that is works with alternative topologies.  Just because one 
person finds a clade to be taxonomically redundant does not mean it should 
be made inactive.  Ornithuromorpha is inactive, while Euornithes is active, 
which I don't think reflects the frequency of their use in publications.

Regardless, it's also useful for learning the revised definitions to be 
published by Sereno in his upcoming JVP article.  He seems to have made 
Unenlagiinae more useful, for instance.  See Taxon Search for yourself here- 
http://www.taxonsearch.org/

Mickey Mortimer