phylogeny RFI

["Ricki Coughlan" <>]

Hi Judith

 

You've probably asked a complex question. It's complex because many of us are still awaiting a complete and robust phylogeny based upon something a little more plausable than the outmoded Biological Species Concept. This concept (if they breed in a shared territory, they're a species) has provided us with the basis or model upon which some of our understanding of relationships and diversity was formed in the past. A true phylogeny based upon a Phylogenetic Species Concept (if a cohesive population shares a discrete characteristic(s), it's a species) may be some time away as far as I can determine. And girlfriend, you can bet your house that I'm already buying an argument with this opening paragraph!

 

A chart of the entire Class would be pretty huge and unweildy and I'm not sure that I've seen one. Charts which express the Class, Orders and Families are probably out there and lists are available as well. However, they're likely to be based on that old BSC and therefore riddled with inaccuracy. Wish to continue?

 

Regards - Ricki