Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!ptimtc!nntp-server.caltech.edu!behind!squirrel From: squirrel@behind.caltech.edu (Patricia M. White) Newsgroups: sci.bio Subject: Re: Coelocanth and evolution:x Message-ID: Date: 10 Jun 91 02:28:00 GMT References: <17580003@hpfcdj.HP.COM> <1991Jun7.041654.477@ac.dal.ca> Sender: news@nntp-server.caltech.edu Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena Lines: 13 It seems to me that the term "primitive" is misleading to some people. A species that is considered ancient or primitive is an animal that is superbly adapted or adaptable. The opossum develops to adulthood quickly, can eat anything, produces many young, but dies after three years: it survives as a species without overpopulating its niche. Thus the opossum has been around for a long time. Don't think of it as "primitive." Think of it as doing something right. Pat White squirrel@above.ugcs.caltech.edu