Re: Fossil Record 2 database

[NEIL CLARK <NCLARK@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Peter wrote:-

> Evolution is about morphologic change and adaptation to the 
environment.  
> The sorting of species into families based on their morphology is a 
very 
> useful tool.  There is no need to have a constant number of species 
in a 
> family.  

I would add that there is no need to have a constant interpretation as 
to what a Family represents in terms of its relationship with other 
Families.  Especially as we are not sure even whether species-level 
taxonomy is equivalent in either living or fossil organisms.

Neil 


Neil Clark
Curator of Palaeontology
Hunterian Museum
University of Glasgow
email: NCLARK@museum.gla.ac.uk

Mountains are found in erogenous zones.
(Geological Howlers - ed. WDI Rolfe)