Re: paleonet Origin of birds

[Carl Mehling <cosm@xxxxxxxx>]

You've got it essentially correct. Birds are descendants of small theropods 
making them dinosaurs themselves. Theropods are saurischians but the 
"lizard hipness" of the entire group was not meant to imply relatedness, 
just similarity. The very birdlike non-bird theropods weren't well known at 
the time of the origin of the word saurischian and, as it turns out, their 
hips are more birdlike than the ornithischians.

-Carl

At 09:58 AM 4/11/2005, you wrote:
>If I understand it correctly, birds are thought to be closely related 
>(derived from or cousins with) the small theropod dinosaurs.  But 
>theropods are part of sauriscia, the "lizard hipped" clad.  Are ave hips 
>really like ornithicia ?  Is there a disconnect here, or are my 
>understanding of dinosaur clads incorrect.
>
>(Forgive my spelling)
>
>Am I being to simple minded here ?
>
>
>Al McCarrick

Carl Mehling
Fossil Amphibian, Reptile, and Bird Collections
Division of Paleontology
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West @79th Street
New York, NY  10024
(212) 769-5849
Fax: (212) 769-5842
cosm@amnh.org