@Marty, I have to agree. This is not what frequently happens with these Cladograms. But now that you are a more “sophisticated customer” for various exhibits for analyzing phylogenies… if you can come up with a “neutral, but less confusing” replacement for “Transitional Fossil” (or even a replacement for “Intermediate Fossil”, which has already been proposed as the replacement for “Transitional”!) - - I would help popularize your newly coined term! Such a deal, right?!?!?
@Marty, could you please explain to me, how we keep ending up on a “bone of contention” for which there should be no bone? Many here at BioLogos (and certainly in line with the mission at PeacefulScience.Org) accept that God engages in either miraculous or non-miraculous assistance in the evolutionary progression of various life forms. It leaves me thinking that this particular research camp is in pursuit of politics rather than any real advances in the sciences.
Let’s keep in mind that the Evolution “science guilds” are trying to consistently replace the term “Transitional” with the term “Intermediate”. This should help reduce the intentional or unintentional abuse of the concepts being handled. But even “Intermediate” has its weaknesses. I would be happy to help popularize whatever replacement term you think would be viable!