[Taxacom] Eccrine glands

[Kenneth Kinman]

 Curtis, 
          No, it is not that labile. Depending on
the taxon, I'm sure eccrine gland distribution could be phylogenetically
useful for some family level taxa of mammals. I certainly would include
it in a phylogenetic analysis of hominoid primates. On the other hand,
it would obviously be useless in rodent families that have no eccrine
glands.  The plesiomorphy is presence in the footpads.
            -------Ken 
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Curtis wrote: 
On 2009-03-24 08:19, Kenneth Kinman wrote: 
         As for eccrine glands, one could probably
write a >whole book on their distribution. In short, different mammalian
taxa >solve their thermoregulatory problems in different ways.
Carnivores >pant (think of it as "internal sweating" through the lungs)
probably >because sweat-soaked coats would be problematic. People and
>horses with less dense coats can more freely sweat externally.
Elephants >could have done the same, but they conserve water by using
their big ears >to thermoregulate. Also depends on the availability of
water >to drink and in their food (desert animals can't afford to sweat
a >lot). 
       So are you saying that their distribution is too labile for
phylogenetic use? What is the plesiomorphy?