Changes

== Taxonomy ==

== Taxonomy ==

The conventional Linnean taxonomy places birds in the Class Aves within the Subphylum Vertebrata. Reptilia, the conventional Class of reptiles, includes crocodiles and relatives, lizards and snakes, turtles, and the tuatara. However, as birds are now known to be dinosaurs, they should be grouped with archosaurs, including the extant crocodiles and the extinct pterosaurs. Hence the conventional classification does not reflect current state of the evolutionary evidence. Zoologists continue to use Class Aves as the taxonomic group of birds but recognise that it is a sub-group of the Superorder Dinosauria, which in turn is a member of the Archosauria, which includes crocodiles and the extinct pterosaurs. The higher classification of reptiles (including birds) is not fully resolved but a common view is that current evidence indicates that the archosaurs (including birds) form a group of similar rank to the lepidosaurs, which include lizards, snakes, the tuatara, and the extinct mosasaurs and plesiosaurs.<ref>Benton, 2004. Vertebrate Paleontology</ref>

The conventional Linnean taxonomy places birds in the Class Aves within the Subphylum Vertebrata. Reptilia, the conventional Class of reptiles, includes crocodiles and relatives, lizards and snakes, turtles, and the tuatara. However, as birds are now known to be dinosaurs, they should be grouped with archosaurs, including the extant crocodiles and the extinct pterosaurs. Hence the conventional classification does not reflect the current state of the evolutionary evidence. Zoologists continue to use Class Aves as the taxonomic group of birds but recognise that it is a sub-group of the Superorder Dinosauria, which in turn is a member of the Archosauria, including crocodiles and the extinct pterosaurs. The higher classification of reptiles (including birds) is not fully resolved but a common view is that current evidence indicates that the archosaurs (including birds) form a group of similar rank to the lepidosaurs, which include lizards, snakes, the tuatara, and the extinct mosasaurs and plesiosaurs.<ref>Benton, 2004. Vertebrate Paleontology</ref>

== Creationary view ==

== Creationary view ==