Re: Moa lineages divergence in PNAS

[Mickey Mortimer <Mickey_Mortimer111@msn.com>]

"The difficulty in assigning bones unequivocally
to taxonomic groups is shown by the phylogenetic
tree of control region sequences. Bones from six specimens were
assigned to the incorrect genus. Additionally, 62 more have been
incorrectly synonymized in the past or are from unrecognized
lineages or were shown to be sexual morphs that necessitated
classification changes for a total morphological classification
error of 33.6%. If the four new lineages are shown eventually to
warrant taxonomic recognition, the error would rise to 54.4%."

Sorta makes you realize just how doomed our low level Mesozoic dinosaur
taxonomies/phylogenies are.

Mickey Mortimer
Undergraduate, Earth and Space Sciences
University of Washington
The Theropod Database - http://students.washington.edu/eoraptor/Home.html