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Author Topic:   Marsupial evolution
PaulK
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Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 7 of 91 (398394)
04-30-2007 3:04 PM
Reply to: Message 6 by Pete OS
04-30-2007 2:49 PM


You might want to look into the history. The genetic data is a relatively new thing. Before then and before cladistics, taxonomy was based on morphology alone. Not just the skeletal structure but the soft parts, too.
When an earlier discussion focussed on the skeletal similarities between the wolf and the thylacine, one thing that cropped up was the teeth. Wolves have distinctively canine teeth. Thylacine teeth are quite different. They really are easy to tell apart if you look at dentition.

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PaulK
Member
Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 11 of 91 (398588)
05-01-2007 3:36 PM
Reply to: Message 9 by MartinV
05-01-2007 2:59 PM


quote:
Skull of marsupial wolf is so similar to skull of canis lupus that only an expert knowing teeth formula of the species can distinguish them.
No, you don't have to be an expert if you get a good look at the teeth. I can easily tell them apart. You would need a little specialised knowledge to know which is which - but only a little. The differences are obvious and anyobdy should be able to see them.

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PaulK
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Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 19 of 91 (398656)
05-02-2007 2:15 AM
Reply to: Message 13 by Hyroglyphx
05-01-2007 8:11 PM


Re: Don't judge a book by its cover
Yes, your point shows that the more detailed analysis used by taxonomists is much superior to the more superficial comparisons between some marsupials and placentals occupying a similar niche.
Which really doesn't get creationists anywhere. The evidence that they wish to reject is untouched by your point.

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PaulK
Member
Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 25 of 91 (399092)
05-03-2007 6:31 PM
Reply to: Message 23 by MartinV
05-03-2007 2:08 PM


Re: placental vs. marsupial
quote:
Darwinists here seem to be pretty sure that they can tell apart skulls of marsupial and placental wolfs:
And the pictures have been produced to SHOW the differences Our confidence is based on having seen the differences. It seems that you are simply assuming that the differences cannot be there.
quote:
Yet folks here are better experts than Oxford students of Zoology.
Aside from the fact that the students had to identify 100 skulls, in exam conditions and - according to the story - were already biased in favour of the thylacine, and may not have known how different the thylacine's teeth really were. They were not in the situation of being presented with two skulls and being able to tell the difference - which is what I referred to. My position is directly supported by the photographs above. That beats your anecdote.

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