Message 2001-06-0125: Re: Crown groups (no longer long)

Mon, 18 Jun 2001 22:17:55 +0200

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Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2001 22:17:55 +0200
From: David Marjanovic <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>
To: PhyloCode mailing list <phylocode@ouvaxa.cats.ohiou.edu>
Subject: Re: Crown groups (no longer long)

> A few points from the Marjanovic/ Headden conversation I thought I'd try
to
> clarify:
>
> 1) The idea of a crown clade [...] There
> are multiple ways to define one, including picking representative species
> (note that the code DOES recommend specific specifiers, as opposed to
> "higher" taxa).

True, I didn't use this in my post because "higher" taxa have "historically"
been used in such definitions, and I don't know the type species of all the
genera I mentioned.

> 3) Mike Keesey is a nice fella, but his website is not, in my opinion, a
> PhyloCode resource. [...] Whether his systematics conform to those
published
> in the
> literature or not is a matter to be investigated BEFORE his material is
used
> as a point of argumentation. [...] and it may be difficult for
nonspecialists
> to separate Mike's ideas from those which are published.

All true, I have cited his website because 1. everyone on this list can
immediately have a look without spending hours in libraries and 2. it lists
lots of synonyms, and definitions for many clades, so it is quite suitable
to illustrate what I was talking about.

Perhaps I should rephrase -- should the disputes over crown groups left at
the individual cases, where they are now*, or should they be concentrated in
one spot = Recommendation?

*The Dinosauricon is current mainstream in using Mammalia and Archosauria,
but not Aves, for crown groups. Though "mainstream" only means something
like 60 -- 70 % of those that work on these groups, I guess.


  

Feedback to <mike@indexdata.com> is welcome!