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Clade
Subclade

Taxon
Taxon
Maniraptora
Nominal Author
Gauthier 1986
2nd Nominal Author
Taxon Status ACTIVE
Comments

Gauthier (1986:35) proposed the initial definition for Maniraptora, a stem-based definition that used Ornithomimidae as an external specifier. This was not widely recognized because the definition was located in the conclusions of work rather than the discussion under the taxon. Padian (1997:411), for example, incorrectly cited Holtz (1996) for the initial stem-based definition of Maniraptora with ornithomimids as the external specifier. Three errors of interpretation involving Maniraptora have ensued:

First, Holtz (1994:figs. 4, 5) applied Maniraptora to a more inclusive clade that included ornithomimosaurs—a clade equivalent in taxonomic content to Gauthier’s Coelurosauria. He did so fully cognizant of Gauthier’s stem-based definition but unhappy that it would be limited on his cladogram to a poorly supported clade consisting only of dromaeosaurids and birds. With a curious twist of logic, Holtz argued that there was another definition implied by the etymology of Gauthier’s taxon (“hand snatchers”) and his list of synapomorphies. He then attempted to construct an “apomorphy-based” definition: “the first theropod possessing the derived fore limb [sic] structures described by Gauthier (including a semilunate carpal structure, a thin narrow metacarpal III, and bowed ulna) and its descendants” (Holtz 1994:1107). In this case, it is not clear if the remaining maniraptoran synapomorphies listed by Gauthier are part of the definition or if the definition should use Holtz’s, rather than Gauthier’s, version of the three cited apomorphies (because they differ in substantive details). More fundamentally, Holtz’s definition is incomplete. A complete stem-based definition with a form qualifier (i.e. an “apomorphy-based” definition) must include at least one specifier (Cantino and de Queiroz 2003, Sereno 2005). Given this background, there is little basis to argue that Holtz (1994) properly redefined Maniraptora as an “apomorphy-based” clade on the basis of wrist morphology (Holtz 1996:536, Padian 1997:411).

Second, Holtz and Padian (1995) redefined Maniraptora again in an abstract as a less inclusive node-based clade including only Dromaeosaurus, birds and descendants of their common ancestor.

Third, Sereno (1998) provided yet another definition for Maniraptora. Like Holtz and Padian (1995) it was node-based and less inclusive than Gauthier’s original definition. This definition, however, was more inclusive than that given by Holtz and Padian (1995), as it included Oviraptor, birds and descendants of their common ancestor.

The most sensible solution given the above is to abandon both Holtz and Padian’s (1995) and Sereno’s (1998) less inclusive, node-based definitions of Maniraptora and return to Gauthier’s original stem-based definition. Doing so would follow the path of many authors that have presented nuanced variations of Gauthier’s original definition, including Holtz (1996), Padian (1997), Chure (2001), and Maryanska et al. (2002). Also following Holtz (1996), Padian (1997) and Sereno (1998). Thus the active definition supported here is a first-order revision of that given by Gauthier (1986).

Maniraptoriformes is adopted in this compilation as a more inclusive group with a node-based definition that includes ornithomimids but excludes all more distantly related coelurosaurians, following Holtz (1996), Padian (1997) and Sereno (1998).

Taxa with less obvious use include:

(1) Tyrannoraptora (Sereno 1999b) is tentatively retained; it will be more useful when, and if, the position of Tyrannosauroidea is better established.

(2) Eumaniraptora, coined by Padian et al. (1997) and defined by Padian et al. (1999) differs from Sereno’s (1997, 1998) stem-based Paraves only by the type of definition; in most analyses, they include the same taxonomic content. Naming both a node- and stem-based taxon that have the same current taxonomic content is not a useful practice, because their difference is less obvious to practicing taxonomists, who them may use them in unintended ways.

Potential Synonomy
Tyrannoraptora

Active Phylogenetic Definition
Active Definition
The most inclusive clade containing Passer domesticus (Linnaeus 1758) but not Ornithomimus edmontonicus Sternberg 1933.
Shorthand
> Passer domesticus but not Ornithomimus edmontonicus.
Definitional Author
Sereno 2005
Definition Status checked
Definition Type STEM
Node-Stem Triplet STEM
Other Triplet Taxa
Maniraptoriformes, Ornithomimiformes
Specifiers
Specifier(s) A
Passer domesticus
Specifier(s) B
Specifier(s) C
Ornithomimus edmontonicus
Qualifiers
+Taxon
-Taxon
Datum
Taxonomic Content
Publication Year Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
1986

Inactive Taxon Status
Rejection Criteria
Critique
 

Definitional History #1
Earliest Record
All coelurosaurs that are closer to birds than they are to Ornithomimidae.
Latest Record
Gauthier 1986:35
Range (My)
Range (My)
Ornithomimidae, birds
Range (My)

Definitional History #2
Earliest Record
All descendants of the common ancestor of Dromaeosaurus and birds.
Latest Record
Holtz and Padian 1995:35A
Range (My)
Range (My)
Dromaeosaurus, birds
Range (My)

Definitional History #3
Earliest Record
All theropods closer to birds than ornithomimids.
Latest Record
Holtz 1996:537-8
Range (My)
Range (My)
ornithomimids, birds
Range (My)

Definitional History #4
Earliest Record
All taxa closer to Aves than to Ornithomimus.
Latest Record
Padian et al 1997:68A
Range (My)
Range (My)
Aves, Ornithomimus
Range (My)

Definitional History #5
Earliest Record
Oviraptor, Neornithes, their most recent common ancestor and all descendants.
Latest Record
Sereno 1998:65
Range (My)
Range (My)
Oviraptor, Neornithes
Range (My)

Definitional History #6
Earliest Record
Aves and all coelurosaurs sharing a more recent common ancestor with birds than with Ornithomimidae.
Latest Record
Chure 2001:285
Range (My)
Range (My)
Aves, Ornithomimidae
Range (My)

Definitional History #7
Earliest Record
The most-inclusive clade containing Passer domesticus but not Ornithomimus velox.
Latest Record
Maryanska et al. 2002:102
Range (My)
Range (My)
Passer domesticus, Ornithomimus velox
Range (My)

Definitional History #8
Earliest Record
Latest Record
Range (My)
Range (My)
Range (My)

Definitional History #9
Earliest Record
Latest Record
Range (My)
Range (My)
Range (My)

Definitional History #10
Earliest Record
Latest Record
Range (My)
Range (My)
Range (My)