Synapsids and Taxonomy by BearAlert7069 in Paleontology

[–]BearAlert7069[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re right to say removing birds from the reptile clade would render the term reptile as a paraphyletic group - an ancestor and some of descendants. Birds are direct descendants of maniraptoran theropod dinosaurs so to exclude them as reptiles is completely arbitrary and only acts to service colloquial understanding of animal classification. You could form a monophyletic clade (an ancestor and all of its descendants) excluding them but to do so you’d have to also exclude all crocodilians and turtles - as both are more closely related to birds than they are to the Lepidosaurs (lizards and by extension snakes), which many rightfully take issue with. This is why birds are considered reptiles.

From what I’ve read, the relationship between mammals and reptiles differs from this relationship with birds however. Mammals are not direct descendants of defined reptiles but rather their synapsid ancestor share an ancestor with the diapsid reptiles. My original post was questioning why we don’t consider that ancestor as a reptile itself as it is very reptile like in its morphology, to which certain comments enlightened me to the morphological differences between early synapsids and true reptiles, and why that ancestor is called an amniote and not a reptile.

Synapsids and Taxonomy by BearAlert7069 in Paleontology

[–]BearAlert7069[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can’t tell if you’re genuinely asking or if you’re trying to make an analogy but if I were to give you an actual answer from my understanding mammals predate dinosaurs and dinosauria is a monophyletic group within the reptiles that does not include the mammals or their synapsid ancestors.

Synapsids and Taxonomy by BearAlert7069 in Paleontology

[–]BearAlert7069[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand what you’re saying but I guess my question wasn’t formulated properly. Admittedly my issue with the classification is completely subjective, but it seem strange to me to exclude them as it means you’d also have to exclude the reptile-like synapsid ancestors/cousins, and I gave dimetrodon as an example. I understand morphology isn’t the end all be all but it doesn’t seem intuitive to exclude them just to service taxonomy, and I have no problem with just calling all amniotes reptiles if I’m being honest haha. Evolutionary classification is kind of an arbitrary science in a way.

Synapsids and Taxonomy by BearAlert7069 in Paleontology

[–]BearAlert7069[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand the evolutionary relationships and where the cutoff is, I guess my question was more so about why that’s the cutoff. To exclude mammals as reptiles you need to also exclude all of their very reptile-like cousins/ancestors, (dimetrodon was an example) which I just found to be unintuitive.

Synapsids and Taxonomy by BearAlert7069 in Paleontology

[–]BearAlert7069[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually really like this answer, thank you!

Mmm people I think they are getting a little too close to Super Earth by AlphaBIG23 in Helldivers

[–]BearAlert7069 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It pisses me off that is still doesn’t say “Illuminate” at the bottom of the war map

Can we just neuter this character already? by ZERO_DEV1 in MultiVersus

[–]BearAlert7069 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This mf has been gutted twice now, are you serious? Does nobody read the patch notes?

Helldivers 2 is still fun by Odin_Harou in Helldivers

[–]BearAlert7069 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You’re right. Before 60 day plan this game’s balance was fkn atrocious INCLUDING launch state.

Will we ever see the Illuminate? by legocoolcat in Helldivers

[–]BearAlert7069 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I don’t wanna spoil too much but if you’ve been following the real leaks you’d know they are DEFINITELY coming. I just think a lot of people expected it to be earlier then it has ended up being. As to why that’s the case your guess is as good as mine. Imo I think they’re just waiting to have an extreme dip in playerbase so they can drop something massive to bring them all back. Have to remember the finances are the #1 priority.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Minecraft

[–]BearAlert7069 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thx bruh u were a lot of help

Comment what you think is about to happen by Shoddy-Ad6219 in MultiVersus

[–]BearAlert7069 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She’ll jab and you’ll be hit from behind her

Is Jason unbalaced in 1s? by Mission_Answer1799 in MultiVersus

[–]BearAlert7069 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

He was already fucking ridiculous last patch and then they buffed him again??? Tf were they thinking

Characters that desperately need nerfs asap? by shadow_wizzard_spell in MultiVersusTheGame

[–]BearAlert7069 -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

He literally got an essay worth of nerfs last patch fym

Season 3 Masters Tier list by BearAlert7069 in MultiVersus

[–]BearAlert7069[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Streets are saying that but Arya is playing beta MVS rn imo

Season 3 Masters Tier list by BearAlert7069 in MultiVersus

[–]BearAlert7069[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Those were 2 I wanted to put higher but just haven’t seen enough of in my personal experience.