Phylogeny of Paleozoic limbed vertebrates reassessed through revision and expansion of the largest published relevant data matrix

PeerJ, Год журнала: 2019, Номер 6, С. e5565 - e5565

Опубликована: Янв. 4, 2019

The largest published phylogenetic analysis of early limbed vertebrates (Ruta M, Coates MI. 2007.

Язык: Английский

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Triassic stem caecilian supports dissorophoid origin of living amphibians

Nature, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 614(7946), С. 102 - 107

Опубликована: Янв. 25, 2023

Living amphibians (Lissamphibia) include frogs and salamanders (Batrachia) the limbless worm-like caecilians (Gymnophiona). The estimated Palaeozoic era gymnophionan-batrachian molecular divergence1 suggests a major gap in record of crown lissamphibians prior to their earliest fossil occurrences Triassic period2-6. Recent studies find monophyletic Batrachia within dissorophoid temnospondyls7-10, but absence pre-Jurassic period caecilian fossils11,12 has made relationships batrachians affinities tetrapods controversial1,8,13,14. Here we report geologically oldest stem caecilian-a lissamphibian from Late epoch Arizona, USA-extending by around 35 million years. These fossils illuminate tempo mode early morphological functional evolution, demonstrating delayed acquisition musculoskeletal features associated with fossoriality living caecilians, including dual jaw closure mechanism15,16, reduced orbits17 tentacular organ18. provenance these Pangaean equatorial origin for implying that biogeography reflects conserved aspects function physiology19, combination vicariance patterns driven plate tectonics20. reveal is unique alongside are shared batrachian temnospondyls, providing new compelling evidence supporting single temnospondyls.

Язык: Английский

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Sphenodontian phylogeny and the impact of model choice in Bayesian morphological clock estimates of divergence times and evolutionary rates

BMC Biology, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 18(1)

Опубликована: Дек. 1, 2020

Abstract Background The vast majority of all life that ever existed on earth is now extinct and several aspects their evolutionary history can only be assessed by using morphological data from the fossil record. Sphenodontian reptiles are a classic example, having an at least 230 million years, but currently represented single living species ( Sphenodon punctatus ). Hence, it imperative to improve development implementation probabilistic models estimate trees (e.g., clocks), which has direct benefits understanding relationships patterns for both species. However, impact model choice morphology-only datasets been poorly explored. Results Here, we investigate wide array choices inference macroevolutionary parameters (divergence times rates) new matrix sphenodontian reptiles. Specifically, tested different clock models, partitioning, taxon sampling strategies, ancestors, variations fossilized birth-death (FBD) tree through time. We find strong divergence background rates when applying widely utilized approaches, such as allowing ancestors in inappropriate assumption diversification being constant compare those results with previous studies molecular analysis provide suggestions improving clocks. Optimal combinations radiation most major lineages sphenodontians Triassic gradual continuous drop evolution across distinct regions phenotype throughout group. Conclusions hypothesis classification, along detailed Importantly, avoid overestimated biased parameter estimates Partitioning relaxed clocks offers methodological limitations, partially circumvented reveal assessment tests mosaicism.

Язык: Английский

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Phylogenetic analysis of Middle-Late Miocene apes

Journal of Human Evolution, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 165, С. 103140 - 103140

Опубликована: Март 7, 2022

Язык: Английский

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Enigmatic amphibians in mid-Cretaceous amber were chameleon-like ballistic feeders

Science, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 370(6517), С. 687 - 691

Опубликована: Ноя. 6, 2020

Albanerpetontids are tiny, enigmatic fossil amphibians with a distinctive suite of characteristics, including scales and specialized jaw neck joints. Here we describe new genus species albanerpetontid, represented by fully articulated three-dimensional specimens preserved in amber. These preserve skeletal soft tissues, an elongated median hyoid element, the tip which remains embedded distal tongue pad. This arrangement is very similar to long, rapidly projecting chameleons. Our results thus suggest that albanerpetontids were sit-and-wait ballistic feeders, extending record this feeding mode around 100 million years.

Язык: Английский

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Middle Jurassic fossils document an early stage in salamander evolution

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 119(30)

Опубликована: Июль 11, 2022

Salamanders are an important group of living amphibians and model organisms for understanding locomotion, development, regeneration, feeding, toxicity in tetrapods. However, their origin early radiation remain poorly understood, with fossil stem-salamanders so far represented by larval or incompletely known taxa. This poor record also limits the Lissamphibia (i.e., frogs, salamanders, caecilians). We report fossils from Middle Jurassic Scotland representing almost entire skeleton enigmatic stem-salamander Marmorerpeton. use computed tomography to visualize high-resolution three-dimensional anatomy, describing morphologies that were characterized including braincase, scapulocoracoid, lower jaw. these data context a phylogenetic analysis intended resolve relationships stem-salamanders, representation outgroups alongside imaging extant species. Marmorerpeton is united Karaurus, Kokartus, others Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous Asia, providing evidence robustly built neotenous stem-salamanders. These taxa display morphological specializations similar cryptobranchid "giant" salamanders. Our demonstrates stem-group affinities larger sample species than previously recognized, highlighting unappreciated diversity cautioning against single (e.g., Karaurus) as exemplars anatomy. findings, combined knowledge near-complete skeletal anatomy Mamorerpeton, advance our evolutionary changes on salamander stem-lineage provide salamanders origins Batrachia Lissamphibia.

Язык: Английский

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Response: Commentary: A Reassessment of the Taxonomic Position of Mesosaurs, and a Surprising Phylogeny of Early Amniotes

Frontiers in Earth Science, Год журнала: 2018, Номер 6

Опубликована: Дек. 3, 2018

GENERAL COMMENTARY article Front. Earth Sci., 03 December 2018Sec. Paleontology Volume 6 - 2018 | https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2018.00220

Язык: Английский

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The evolution of larvae in temnospondyls and the stepwise origin of amphibian metamorphosis

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 99(5), С. 1613 - 1637

Опубликована: Апрель 10, 2024

ABSTRACT The question of what the ancient life cycle tetrapods was like forms a key component in understanding origin land vertebrates. existence distinct larval forms, as exemplified by many lissamphibians, and their transformation into adults is an important aspect this field. temnospondyls, largest clade Palaeozoic–Mesozoic non‐amniote tetrapods, covered wide ecomorphological range from fully aquatic to terrestrial taxa. In various species, rich ontogenetic data have accumulated over past 130 years, permitting study early phases temnospondyl development. eight been identified which skeleton formed. branchiosaurids eryopiform Sclerocephalus , large parts ossification sequence are now known. Most taxa small specimens preserved had larvae with external gills that superficially resemble salamanders. edopoids, dvinosaurs, eryopiforms, developed slowly, incompletely ossified axial appendicular skeletons, but possessed fast‐developing dermal skull strong teeth. Irrespective adult terrestriality or life, there no drastic during later ontogeny, slow steady acquisition features. dissorophoids, limbs at much faster pace, whereas formation slowed down, especially amphibamiforms, culminating neotenic Branchiosauridae. zatracheid Acanthostomatops profound led adult. basal dissorophoid Stegops retained rapid development bones established dentigerous, strongly palate early. Micromelerpeton last slightly delayed metamorphosis remained long phase morphological transformations. became more drastic, increasing number events packed short ontogeny. This Apateon Platyrhinops Amphibamus condensation maximised. We distinguish three different types (morphological, ecological drastic) evolved cumulatively within temnospondyls.

Язык: Английский

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Histological skeletochronology indicates developmental plasticity in the early Permian stem lissamphibian Doleserpeton annectens

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 10(4), С. 2153 - 2169

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2020

Doleserpeton annectens is a small-bodied early Permian amphibamiform, clade of temnospondyl amphibians regarded by many workers to be on the lissamphibian stem. Most studies this taxon have focused solely its anatomy, but further exploration other aspects paleobiology, such as developmental patterns, critical for better understanding evolutionary history lissamphibians. Here, we present histological analysis growth patterns in D. that utilizes 60 femora, largest sample size any Paleozoic tetrapod. We identified pervasive pairs closely spaced lines arrested (LAGs), pattern indicates marked degree climatic harshness and would result two cessations within presumed single year. documented wide variation compared previous skeletochronological studies, reflected poor correlation between inferred age, observation aligns with observed extant Furthermore, sensitivity analyses conducted subsampling our dataset at more typical sizes paleontological produced range results. This includes biologically improbable results exceptionally well-fit curves demonstrate low can produce potentially misleading artifacts. propose weak age represents plasticity typifies Detection these likely only possible large extinct taxa, false, warrant caution drawing paleobiological interpretations from samples.

Язык: Английский

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Exact Distribution of Divergence Times from Fossil Ages and Tree Topologies

Systematic Biology, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 69(6), С. 1068 - 1087

Опубликована: Март 17, 2020

Abstract Being given a phylogenetic tree of both extant and extinct taxa in which the fossil ages are only temporal information (namely, divergence times considered unknown), we provide method to compute exact probability distribution any time with regard speciation (cladogenesis), extinction, fossilization rates under Fossilized Birth–Death model. We use this new obtain for age Amniota (the synapsid/sauropsid or bird/mammal divergence), one most-frequently used dating constraints. Our results suggest an older (between about 322 340 Ma) than has been assumed by most studies that have constraint (which typically best estimate around 310–315 provide, first time, shape density time. [Divergence times; ages; fossilized birth–death model; distribution.]

Язык: Английский

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