tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post3938174405030747449..comments2024-03-15T01:29:44.048-07:00Comments on Mark P. Witton's Blog: We just can't quit you, PterodactylusMark Wittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02524696111911168322noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-53896439110644457562015-10-15T04:59:12.644-07:002015-10-15T04:59:12.644-07:00"Must not do this by eyeballing them."
..."Must not do this by eyeballing them."<br /><br />Yup, it's similar to how eyeballing the fossils yields this: https://40.media.tumblr.com/2228c01368ec19920cc02794a4d30e85/tumblr_mf901eZF8s1rbztl0o1_400.png<br />Wait... A... Second...Pds3.14https://www.blogger.com/profile/01042151103642336762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-34987129185371102472015-10-12T03:50:12.055-07:002015-10-12T03:50:12.055-07:00Mark, I suggest you run a phylogenetic analysis on...Mark, I suggest you run a phylogenetic analysis on all specimens referred to Pterodactylus as well as all those which are not. I did so (results at reptileevolution.com/MPUM6009-3.htm) and found that no two included putative Pterodactylus taxa scored identically, even though several were similar in size. The resulting tree was completely resolved with several putative Pterodactylus taxa nesting far from the holotype of Pterodactylus. The tiny putative juvenile Pterodactylus generally nested at the bases of distinct clades of larger taxa and were derived from distinct taxa often with longer tails, demonstrating phylogenetic miniaturization and the multiple origin of ‘pterodactyloid’-grade pterosaurs. Falsifying your claims of allometry during ontogeny, several juveniles of established taxa are known that are virtually identical to their parents (Pterodaustro, Zhejiangopterus, Pteranodon, the largest species of Rhamphorhynchus, Tapejara). Like many of their lepidosaur ancestors, pterosaurs matured isometrically. So if two pterosaurs are different, they cannot be a juvenile/adult pairing. It is okay to lump specimens together, but you must not try to do this by eyeballing them. Clades must be established by a comprehsive phylogenetic analysis (see above for an example of this). Accurate skeletal reconstructions set side-by-side are essential to demonstrate subtle variations you may be missing. The pedal bone proportions are typically unique, like fingerprints (Peters 2011) Bennett has been loathe to run an analysis. So have others duplicating the taxa listed in Peters 2007 and added to ever since. D.P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13009843520057633239noreply@blogger.com