Re: Frankenstein's Papers

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

> Interestingly, the cladistic analysis tips many turtles out of the 
> crown-group (Testudines).  Even _Meiolania_ (which lingered into the 
> Holocene) is recovered as a stem-turtle.

As already found by Joyce (2008, Peabody Museum Bulletin, testudinate 
phylogeny) and predicted by Joyce & Sterli (2007, Acta Pal. Pol., 
redescription of *Kayentachelys* showing the absence of testudine features).

Incidentally, Joyce (2008) makes clear that the cleithrum is retained in all 
stem-turtles and was lost three times independently among crown turtles. 
*Meiolania* had one, IIRC. This counts as evidence against turtles being 
crown-diapsids.