Talk:Mecoptera

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[edit] Siphonaptera are really Mecoptera?

There isn't a reference to back this up, but even if there was, I don't think DNA entirely overrules the other taxonomy characteristics that are taken into account. In any case I don't think the claim that Siphonaptera are a part of the Mecoptera is widely accepted. The Tree of life and the Systema Naturae certainly don't think so. I'll probably remove that from the taxo box unless there's good evidence that the claim is widely accepted. - Taxman ^Talk 15:52, August 4, 2005 (UTC)

You're probably right that it's not widely accepted yet, so feel free to remove it from the taxobox, although it should probably be mentioned in the article. I'll add the reference in a minute. AFAIK the DNA evidence does not really contradict other evidence -- it's just that before, nobody really knew where to put fleas since they are so highly specialized, and so as a stopgap they made them their own order. With TOL/SN, it's unfortunately hard to tell if they disagree with a research result or if they just haven't heard about it yet. --Chl 20:56, 4 August 2005 (UTC)

More than happy to leave it in the article the way it is now as a mention, especially if you can find the reference for it. But I'd really like to remove it from the taxobox unless there's further verification that the claim is widely accepted. Covering it that way seems appropriate given the facts of the situation as I see them so far. Thanks for responding also - Taxman ^Talk 21:04, August 4, 2005 (UTC)