Re: MULTIPLE INCLUSIVE ANCHORS?

[NJPharris@aol.com]

In a message dated 2/13/02 3:18:06 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
Tetanurae@aol.com writes:

> Plus many other
>   stem based taxa with more than one inclusive anchor.  I thought that this 
>  could not be possible, because a topology like this [which is technically 
>  possible, we don't have the hindsight of the creator of the universe]:
>  
>  --+--Gallus
>    `--+--Anser
>       `--Fringilla
>  
>  would indicate that this supposed stem based clade  is actually composed 
of 
>  two different stems that are serial outgroups to Fringilla, and 
polyphyletic.

I like it.  If _Anser_ should prove to be closer to _Fringilla_ than to 
_Gallus_, then Galloanserae (or whatever clade was being defined here) 
self-destructs, and we don't have to deal with it any more, which is a good 
thing, since the clade was named specifically to encompass a group including 
galliforms and anseriforms but specifically _not_ higher land birds, 
including _Fringilla_.

--Nick P.