[Taxacom] Ardipithecus not a hominid????

[Kenneth Kinman]

Hi John,
      I haven't had time to study the Ardipithecus paper yet, so I don't
know how bad or good the illustrations are (or how the online versions
might compare with the print version).  In any case, the authors having
studied these bones up close and personal for 11 years, I have to give
their interpretations a lot of credence.  
      As for your arguments against Ardipithecus being a hominid, it is
unclear what "alternative placement" you would actually favor.  Based on
your dental evidence, I guess you would place Ardipithecus outside of
your proposed orangutan-Australopithecus-Homo clade.  However, dental
evidence can be very homoplastic due to differences in diet.
       As for Ardipithecus not being as bipedal as Australopithecus and
Homo, that is EXACTLY what one would expect.  Are you arguing that
Ardipithecus is no more bipedal than the orangutan clade???  You made it
very clear what you are arguing against, but not so clear just what you
are arguing for.  I can only guess that you would favor Ardipithecus as
close to, but outside of, your orangutan-australopith-Homo clade.
           --------Ken