Monday, June 7, 2010

Maniraptors (2)

The creatures labeled "Maniraptors" are birds (not dinosaurs). They developed in a line separate from the dinosaurs.
Since the category names such as Maniraptors (Maniraptora, Eumaniraptora etc.) are now so entrenched as being dinosaur-related names it would be helpful to stop using that name entirely.
Here is what we would have:
"Theropod" dinosaurs would still be a valid group but would include only the actual dinosaurs and not the creatures presently labeled "Maniraptors".
A completely separate, bird-related line extends from the Pterosauria through to modern flying birds (Neognathae) and modern flightless birds (Palaeognathae).

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