The emerging statistical perspective in systematics: A comment on Mares and Braun

Recent advances in systematics have resulted in the development of statisti cal approaches to phylogeny estimation and hypothesis testing. We present t his emerging statistical perspective, distinguish it from the nonstatistica l approach as commonly practiced, and demonstrate its application to 2 syst ematic proposals from the recent literature on rodents: Mares and Braun's ( 1996) retention of Andalgalomys contra Steppan (1995) and the conclusion of Engel et al. (1998) that Calomys is a multitribal composite taxon. Systema tic arguments and recommendations by Mares and Braun are critiqued in detai l. We argue that the statistical approach provides a more objective and pow erful basis for evaluating alternative phylogenetic hypotheses and a more s table foundation for nomenclatural decisions.