DOCSLIB.ORG

Early Tetrapod Relationships Revisited

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Early Tetrapod Relationships Revisited Biol. Rev. (2003), 78, pp. 251–345. f Cambridge Philosophical Society 251 DOI: 10.1017/S1464793102006103 Printed in the United Kingdom Early tetrapod relationships revisited MARCELLO RUTA1*, MICHAEL I. COATES1 and DONALD L. J. QUICKE2 1 The Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, 1027 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637-1508, USA ([email protected]; [email protected]) 2 Department of Biology, Imperial College at Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SL57PY, UK and Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW75BD, UK ([email protected]) (Received 29 November 2001; revised 28 August 2002; accepted 2 September 2002) ABSTRACT In an attempt to investigate differences between the most widely discussed hypotheses of early tetrapod relation- ships, we assembled a new data matrix including 90 taxa coded for 319 cranial and postcranial characters. We have incorporated, where possible, original observations of numerous taxa spread throughout the major tetrapod clades. A stem-based (total-group) definition of Tetrapoda is preferred over apomorphy- and node-based (crown-group) definitions. This definition is operational, since it is based on a formal character analysis. A PAUP* search using a recently implemented version of the parsimony ratchet method yields 64 shortest trees. Differ- ences between these trees concern: (1) the internal relationships of aı¨stopods, the three selected species of which form a trichotomy; (2) the internal relationships of embolomeres, with Archeria crassidisca and Pholiderpeton scutigerum collapsed in a trichotomy with a clade formed by Anthracosaurus russelli and Pholiderpeton attheyi; (3) the internal relationships of derived dissorophoids, with four amphibamid species forming an unresolved node with a clade consisting of micromelerpetontids and branchiosaurids and a clade consisting of albanerpetontids plus basal crown-group lissamphibians; (4) the position of albenerpetontids and Eocaecilia micropoda, which form an un- resolved node with a trichotomy subtending Karaurus sharovi, Valdotriton gracilis and Triadobatrachus massinoti; (5) the branching pattern of derived diplocaulid nectrideans, with Batrachiderpeton reticulatum and Diceratosaurus brevirostris collapsed in a trichotomy with a clade formed by Diplocaulus magnicornis and Diploceraspis burkei. The results of the original parsimony run – as well as those retrieved from several other treatments of the data set (e.g. exclusion of postcranial and lower jaw data; character reweighting; reverse weighting) – indicate a deep split of early tetrapods between lissamphibian- and amniote-related taxa. Colosteids, Crassigyrinus, Whatcheeria and baphetids are progressively more crownward stem-tetrapods. Caerorhachis, embolomeres, gephyrostegids, Solenodonsaurus and seymouriamorphs are progressively more crownward stem-amniotes. Eucritta is basal to temnospondyls, with crown-lissamphibians nested within dissorophoids. Westlothiana is basal to Lepospondyli, but evidence for the monophyletic status of the latter is weak. Westlothiana and Lepospondyli form the sister group to diadecto- morphs and crown-group amniotes. Tuditanomorph and microbrachomorph microsaurs are successively more closely related to a clade including proximodistally: (1) lysorophids; (2) Acherontiscus as sister taxon to adelospondyls; (3) scincosaurids plus diplocaulids; (4) urocordylids plus aı¨stopods. A data set employing cranial characters only places microsaurs on the amniote stem, but forces remaining lepospondyls to appear as sister group to colosteids on the tetrapod stem in several trees. This arrangement is not significantly worse than the tree topology obtained from the analysis of the complete data set. The pattern of sister group relationships in the crownward part of the temnospondyl-lissamphibian tree re-emphasizes the important role of dissorophoids in the lissamphibian origin debate. However, no specific dissorophoid can be identified as the immediate sister taxon to crown-group lissamphibians. The branching sequence of various stem-group amniotes reveals a coherent set of internested character-state changes related to the acquisition of progressively more terrestrial habits in several Permo-Carboniferous forms. Key words: amniotes, characters, congruence, lissamphibians, parsimony ratchet, taxon exemplar, tetrapods, total-group. * Author for correspondence. 252 Marcello Ruta, Michael I. Coates and Donald L. J. Quicke CONTENTS I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 253 II. Conflicting cladogram topologies ............................................................................................................. 255 III. Historical background ................................................................................................................................ 257 IV. Taxonomic definitions ............................................................................................................................... 259 V. Taxon exemplars ........................................................................................................................................ 261 (1) Devonian and Lower Carboniferous taxa ..................................................................................... 261 (a) Taxonomic sample ..................................................................................................................... 261 (b) Remarks ....................................................................................................................................... 262 (2) Acherontiscidae ................................................................................................................................. 262 (a) Taxonomic sample ..................................................................................................................... 262 (b) Remarks ....................................................................................................................................... 262 (3) Adelospondyli .................................................................................................................................... 262 (a) Taxonomic sample ..................................................................................................................... 262 (b) Remarks ....................................................................................................................................... 262 (4) Aı¨stopoda ............................................................................................................................................ 263 (a) Taxonomic sample ..................................................................................................................... 263 (b) Remarks ....................................................................................................................................... 263 (5) Baphetidae .......................................................................................................................................... 263 (a) Taxonomic sample ..................................................................................................................... 263 (b) Remarks ....................................................................................................................................... 263 (6) Colosteidae ......................................................................................................................................... 263 (a) Taxonomic sample ..................................................................................................................... 263 (b) Remarks ....................................................................................................................................... 263 (7) Diadectomorpha ................................................................................................................................ 264 (a) Taxonomic sample ..................................................................................................................... 264 (b) Remarks ....................................................................................................................................... 264 (8) Embolomeri and Eoherpetontidae ................................................................................................. 264 (a) Taxonomic sample ..................................................................................................................... 264 (b) Remarks ....................................................................................................................................... 264 (9) Gephyrostegidae ................................................................................................................................ 265 (a) Taxonomic sample ..................................................................................................................... 265 (b) Remarks ....................................................................................................................................... 265 (10) Lysorophia .......................................................................................................................................... 265 (a) Taxonomic sample ....................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Szentesi Et Al.Indd
    FRAGMENTA PALAEONTOLOGICA HUNGARICA Volume 32 Budapest, 2015 pp. 49–66 Albanerpetontidae from the late Pliocene (MN 16A) Csarnóta 3 locality (Villány Hills, South Hungary) in the collection of the Hungarian Natural History Museum Zoltán Szentesi1, Piroska Pazonyi2 & Lukács Mészáros3 1Department of Palaeontology and Geology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, H-1083 Budapest, Ludovika tér 2, Hungary. E-mail: [email protected] 2MTA–MTM–ELTE Research Group for Palaeontology H-1083 Budapest, Ludovika tér 2, Hungary. E-mail: [email protected] 3Department of Palaeontology, Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Hungary. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract – Based on cranial and jaw elements, the presence of Albanerpeton pannonicum species (Allocaudata: Albanerpetontidae) was noticed from the late Pliocene Csarnóta 3 locality (Villány Hills). Since it is considered a poor fossil site, it had not been suffi ciently studied. Th ese fossils represent the geologically youngest record of the species from Hungary. Th ough, the Csarnóta 3 albanerpetontid assemblage is small the bones are well preserved, and all are informative on spe- cies or at least on genus level. Th e red coloured bone-bearing deposits and the preservation quality of bones are very similar to the uppermost strata (4–1) of the Csarnóta 2 palaeovertebrate locality. Th e study of small mammal fauna also suggests this correlation, as well as explains the age of the site. Th e studied vertebrate fauna forms a transition between the woodland and steppe wildlife. With 17 fi gures and 3 tables. Key words – Albanerpeton, Albanerpetontidae, late Pliocene, small mam mals, taphonomy, Vil- lány Hills INTRODUCTION Albanerpetontidae are a Middle Jurassic – late Pliocene clade of salaman- der-like lissamphibians that are closely related to anurans and salamanders (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • Die Microsauria Des Mitteleuropäischen Rotliegend
    Die Microsauria des mitteleuropäischen Rotliegend Dissertation zur Erlangung des Grades „Doktor der Naturwissenschaften" im Promotionsfach Geologie/Paläontologie am Fachbereich Chemie, Pharmazie und Geowissenschaften der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität in Mainz Sabine Glienke geb. in Worms Mainz, 2011 http://d-nb.info/1058187503 Inhalt Inhalt 1. Einleitung 6 1.1. Allgemeine Merkmale und Bearbeitungsgeschichte 6 1.2. Fundorte und Erhaltung 9 2. Methoden, Abkürzungen und Material 16 2.1. Methoden 16 2.1.1. Bearbeitung der Skelette 16 2.1.2. Gewinnung und Bearbeitung der Einzelknochen 16 2.1.3. Kladogramme 17 2.2. Abkürzungen 17 2.2.1. Sammlungen 17 2.2.2. In den Zeichnungen verwendete Abkürzungen 17 2.3. Übersicht über die untersuchten Skelette 19 3. Beschreibungen 21 3.1. Die Familie Brachystelechidae CARROLL& GASKILL, 1978 21 3.1.1. Systematische Stellung 21 3.1.2. Diagnose 21 3.2. Die Gattung Batropetes CARROLL & GASKILL, 1971 21 3.2.1. Systematische Stellung 21 3.2.2. Diagnose 22 3.2.3. Die vier Spezies der Gattung Batropetes 22 3.3. Batropetes niederkirchensis n. sp 26 3.3.1. Diagnose 26 3.3.2. Beschreibung 28 3.3.2.1. Schädel 28 3.3.2.1.1. Schädeldach 28 3.3.2.1.2. Gaumen 38 3.3.2.1.3. Hirnkapsel 43 3.3.2.1.4. Unterkiefer 46 3.3.2.2. Postcraniales Skelett 48 Inhalt 3.4. Batropetes palatinus n. sp 62 3.4.1. Diagnose 62 3.4.2. Beschreibung 63 3.4.2.1. Schädel 74 3.4.2.1.1. Schädeldach 74 3.4.2.1.2.
    [Show full text]
  • New Permian Fauna from Tropical Gondwana
    ARTICLE Received 18 Jun 2015 | Accepted 18 Sep 2015 | Published 5 Nov 2015 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9676 OPEN New Permian fauna from tropical Gondwana Juan C. Cisneros1,2, Claudia Marsicano3, Kenneth D. Angielczyk4, Roger M. H. Smith5,6, Martha Richter7, Jo¨rg Fro¨bisch8,9, Christian F. Kammerer8 & Rudyard W. Sadleir4,10 Terrestrial vertebrates are first known to colonize high-latitude regions during the middle Permian (Guadalupian) about 270 million years ago, following the Pennsylvanian Gondwanan continental glaciation. However, despite over 150 years of study in these areas, the bio- geographic origins of these rich communities of land-dwelling vertebrates remain obscure. Here we report on a new early Permian continental tetrapod fauna from South America in tropical Western Gondwana that sheds new light on patterns of tetrapod distribution. Northeastern Brazil hosted an extensive lacustrine system inhabited by a unique community of temnospondyl amphibians and reptiles that considerably expand the known temporal and geographic ranges of key subgroups. Our findings demonstrate that tetrapod groups common in later Permian and Triassic temperate communities were already present in tropical Gondwana by the early Permian (Cisuralian). This new fauna constitutes a new biogeographic province with North American affinities and clearly demonstrates that tetrapod dispersal into Gondwana was already underway at the beginning of the Permian. 1 Centro de Cieˆncias da Natureza, Universidade Federal do Piauı´, 64049-550 Teresina, Brazil. 2 Programa de Po´s-Graduac¸a˜o em Geocieˆncias, Departamento de Geologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50740-533 Recife, Brazil. 3 Departamento de Cs. Geologicas, FCEN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IDEAN- CONICET, C1428EHA Ciudad Auto´noma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Microvertebrate Assemblage from the Mussentuchit
    A new microvertebrate assemblage from the Mussentuchit Member, Cedar Mountain Formation: insights into the paleobiodiversity and paleobiogeography of early Late Cretaceous ecosystems in western North America Haviv M. Avrahami1,2,3, Terry A. Gates1, Andrew B. Heckert3, Peter J. Makovicky4 and Lindsay E. Zanno1,2 1 Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA 2 North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC, USA 3 Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, USA 4 Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA ABSTRACT The vertebrate fauna of the Late Cretaceous Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation has been studied for nearly three decades, yet the fossil-rich unit continues to produce new information about life in western North America approximately 97 million years ago. Here we report on the composition of the Cliffs of Insanity (COI) microvertebrate locality, a newly sampled site containing perhaps one of the densest concentrations of microvertebrate fossils yet discovered in the Mussentuchit Member. The COI locality preserves osteichthyan, lissamphibian, testudinatan, mesoeucrocodylian, dinosaurian, metatherian, and trace fossil remains and is among the most taxonomically rich microvertebrate localities in the Mussentuchit Submitted 30 May 2018 fi fi Accepted 8 October 2018 Member. To better re ne taxonomic identi cations of isolated theropod dinosaur Published 16 November 2018 teeth, we used quantitative analyses of taxonomically comprehensive databases of Corresponding authors theropod tooth measurements, adding new data on theropod tooth morphodiversity in Haviv M. Avrahami, this poorly understood interval. We further provide the first descriptions of [email protected] tyrannosauroid premaxillary teeth and document the earliest North American record of Lindsay E.
    [Show full text]
  • Limb Ossification in the Paleozoic Branchiosaurid Apateon (Temnospondyli) and the Early Evolution of Preaxial Dominance in Tetrapod Limb Development
    EVOLUTION & DEVELOPMENT 9:1, 69 –75 (2007) Limb ossification in the Paleozoic branchiosaurid Apateon (Temnospondyli) and the early evolution of preaxial dominance in tetrapod limb development Nadia B. Fro¨bisch,a,Ã Robert L. Carroll,a and Rainer R. Schochb aRedpath Museum, McGill University, 859 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal H3A 2K6, Canada bStaatliches Museum fu¨r Naturkunde Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany ÃAuthor for correspondence (email: [email protected]) SUMMARY Despite the wide range of shapes and sizes that divergent evolution of these two pathways and its causes are accompany a vast variety of functions, the development of still not understood. Based on an extensive ontogenetic series tetrapod limbs follows a conservative pattern of de novo we investigated the pattern of limb development of the 300 Ma condensation, branching, and segmentation. Development of old branchiosaurid amphibian Apateon. This revealed a the zeugopodium and digital arch typically occurs in a posterior preaxial dominance in limb development that was previously to anterior sequence, referred to as postaxial dominance, with believed to be unique and derived for modern salamanders. a digital sequence of 4–3–5–2–1. The only exception to this The Branchiosauridae are favored as close relatives of pattern in all of living Tetrapoda can be found in salamanders, extant salamanders in most phylogenetic hypotheses of the which display a preaxial dominance in limb development, a de highly controversial origins and relationships of extant novo condensation of a basale commune (distal carpal/tarsal amphibians. The findings provide new insights into the 112) and a precoccial development of digits I and II.
    [Show full text]
  • AMS112 1978-1979 Lowres Web
    --~--------~--------------------------------------------~~~~----------~-------------- - ~------------------------------ COVER: Paul Webber, technical officer in the Herpetology department searchers for reptiles and amphibians on a field trip for the Colo River Survey. Photo: John Fields!The Australian Museum. REPORT of THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM TRUST for the YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE , 1979 ST GOVERNMENT PRINTER, NEW SOUTH WALES-1980 D. WE ' G 70708K-1 CONTENTS Page Page Acknowledgements 4 Department of Palaeontology 36 The Australian Museum Trust 5 Department of Terrestrial Invertebrate Ecology 38 Lizard Island Research Station 5 Department of Vertebrate Ecology 38 Research Associates 6 Camden Haven Wildlife Refuge Study 39 Associates 6 Functional Anatomy Unit.. 40 National Photographic Index of Australian Director's Research Laboratory 40 Wildlife . 7 Materials Conservation Section 41 The Australian Museum Society 7 Education Section .. 47 Letter to the Premier 9 Exhibitions Department 52 Library 54 SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENTS Photographic and Visual Aid Section 54 Department of Anthropology 13 PublicityJ Pu bl ications 55 Department of Arachnology 18 National Photographic Index of Australian Colo River Survey .. 19 Wildlife . 57 Lizard Island Research Station 59 Department of Entomology 20 The Australian Museum Society 61 Department of Herpetology 23 Appendix 1- Staff .. 62 Department of Ichthyology 24 Appendix 2-Donations 65 Department of Malacology 25 Appendix 3-Acknowledgements of Co- Department of Mammalogy 27 operation. 67 Department of Marine
    [Show full text]
  • BOA2.1 Caecilian Biology and Natural History.Key
    The Biology of Amphibians @ Agnes Scott College Mark Mandica Executive Director The Amphibian Foundation [email protected] 678 379 TOAD (8623) 2.1: Introduction to Caecilians Microcaecilia dermatophaga Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia There are more than 20 synapomorphies (shared characters) uniting the group Lissamphibia Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia Integumen is Glandular Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia Glandular Skin, with 2 main types of glands. Mucous Glands Aid in cutaneous respiration, reproduction, thermoregulation and defense. Granular Glands Secrete toxic and/or noxious compounds and aid in defense Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia Pedicellate Teeth crown (dentine, with enamel covering) gum line suture (fibrous connective tissue, where tooth can break off) basal element (dentine) Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia Sacral Vertebrae Sacral Vertebrae Connects pelvic girdle to The spine. Amphibians have no more than one sacral vertebrae (caecilians have none) Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia Amphicoelus Vertebrae Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia Opercular apparatus Unique to amphibians and Operculum part of the sound conducting mechanism Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia Fat Bodies Surrounding Gonads Fat Bodies Insulate gonads Evolution of Amphibians † † † † Actinopterygian Coelacanth, Tetrapodomorpha †Amniota *Gerobatrachus (Ray-fin Fishes) Lungfish (stem-tetrapods) (Reptiles, Mammals)Lepospondyls † (’frogomander’) Eocaecilia GymnophionaKaraurus Caudata Triadobatrachus Anura (including Apoda Urodela Prosalirus †) Salientia Batrachia Lissamphibia
    [Show full text]
  • Early Cretaceous) Wessex Formation of the Isle of Wight, Southern England
    A new albanerpetontid amphibian from the Barremian (Early Cretaceous) Wessex Formation of the Isle of Wight, southern England STEVEN C. SWEETMAN and JAMES D. GARDNER Sweetman, S.C. and Gardner, J.D. 2013. A new albanerpetontid amphibian from the Barremian (Early Cretaceous) Wes− sex Formation of the Isle of Wight, southern England. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 58 (2): 295–324. A new albanerpetontid, Wesserpeton evansae gen. et sp. nov., from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian) Wessex Formation of the Isle of Wight, southern England, is described. Wesserpeton is established on the basis of a unique combination of primitive and derived characters relating to the frontals and jaws which render it distinct from currently recognized albanerpetontid genera: Albanerpeton (Late Cretaceous to Pliocene of Europe, Early Cretaceous to Paleocene of North America and Late Cretaceous of Asia); Celtedens (Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous of Europe); and Anoualerpeton (Middle Jurassic of Europe and Early Cretaceous of North Africa). Although Wesserpeton exhibits considerable intraspecific variation in characters pertaining to the jaws and, to a lesser extent, frontals, the new taxon differs from Celtedens in the shape of the internasal process and gross morphology of the frontals in dorsal or ventral view. It differs from Anoualerpeton in the lack of pronounced heterodonty of dentary and maxillary teeth; and in the more medial loca− tion and direction of opening of the suprapalatal pit. The new taxon cannot be referred to Albanerpeton on the basis of the morphology of the frontals. Wesserpeton currently represents the youngest record of Albanerpetontidae in Britain. Key words: Lissamphibia, Albanerpetontidae, microvertebrates, Cretaceous, Britain. Steven C.
    [Show full text]
  • Cape Range National Park
    Cape Range National Park Management Plan No 65 2010 R N V E M E O N G T E O H F T W A E I S L T A E R R N A U S T CAPE RANGE NATIONAL PARK Management Plan 2010 Department of Environment and Conservation Conservation Commission of Western Australia VISION By 2020, the park and the Ningaloo Marine Park will be formally recognised amongst the world’s most valuable conservation and nature based tourism icons. The conservation values of the park will be in better condition than at present. This will have been achieved by reducing stress on ecosystems to promote their natural resilience, and facilitating sustainable visitor use. In particular, those values that are not found or are uncommon elsewhere will have been conserved, and their special conservation significance will be recognised by the local community and visitors. The park will continue to support a wide range of nature-based recreational activities with a focus on preserving the remote and natural character of the region. Visitors will continue to enjoy the park, either as day visitors from Exmouth or by camping in the park itself at one of the high quality camping areas. The local community will identify with the park and the adjacent Ningaloo Marine Park, and recognise that its values are of international significance. An increasing number of community members will support and want to be involved in its ongoing management. The Indigenous heritage of the park will be preserved by the ongoing involvement of the traditional custodians, who will have a critical and active role in jointly managing the cultural and conservation values of the park.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogeny and Evolution of the Dissorophoid Temnospondyls
    Journal of Paleontology, 93(1), 2019, p. 137–156 Copyright © 2018, The Paleontological Society. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 0022-3360/15/0088-0906 doi: 10.1017/jpa.2018.67 The putative lissamphibian stem-group: phylogeny and evolution of the dissorophoid temnospondyls Rainer R. Schoch Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Rosenstein 1, D-70191 Stuttgart, Germany 〈[email protected]〉 Abstract.—Dissorophoid temnospondyls are widely considered to have given rise to some or all modern amphibians (Lissamphibia), but their ingroup relationships still bear major unresolved questions. An inclusive phylogenetic ana- lysis of dissorophoids gives new insights into the large-scale topology of relationships. Based on a TNT 1.5 analysis (33 taxa, 108 characters), the enigmatic taxon Perryella is found to nest just outside Dissorophoidea (phylogenetic defintion), but shares a range of synapomorphies with this clade. The dissorophoids proper are found to encompass a first dichotomy between the largely paedomorphic Micromelerpetidae and all other taxa (Xerodromes). Within the latter, there is a basal dichotomy between the large, heavily ossified Olsoniformes (Dissorophidae + Trematopidae) and the small salamander-like Amphibamiformes (new taxon), which include four clades: (1) Micropholidae (Tersomius, Pasawioops, Micropholis); (2) Amphibamidae sensu stricto (Doleserpeton, Amphibamus); (3) Branchiosaur- idae (Branchiosaurus, Apateon, Leptorophus, Schoenfelderpeton); and (4) Lissamphibia. The genera Platyrhinops and Eos- copus are here found to nest at the base of Amphibamiformes. Represented by their basal-most stem-taxa (Triadobatrachus, Karaurus, Eocaecilia), lissamphibians nest with Gerobatrachus rather than Amphibamidae, as repeatedly found by former analyses.
    [Show full text]
  • Heber Den Archegosaurus Der Stciiikohleiiforntatioii. Wenn Auch
    ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Palaeontographica - Beiträge zur Naturgeschichte der Vorzeit Jahr/Year: 1851 Band/Volume: 1 Autor(en)/Author(s): Meyer Hermann Christian Erich von Artikel/Article: Ueber den Archegosaurus der Steinkohlenformation. 209-215 © Biodiversity Heritage Library, http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/; www.zobodat.at Heber den Archegosaurus der Stciiikohleiiforntatioii. Von Hermann von Meyer. Die Nachrichten über das Vorkommen von Reptilien in Gebilden älter als die Formation des Zechsteins hatten sich bei genauerer Prüfung immer als unhaltbar bewiesen. Man glaubte sich daher um so mehr berechtigt, anzunehmen, dass im Zechstein die ältesten Reptilien begraben lägen, als während der Versammlung der Naturforscher in Mainz Dr. Gergens und Alex. Braun mir eine Wirbelthier- Versteinerung aus dem der Steinkohlenformation angehörigen, durch seine Fische berühmten Schieferthon von Münster- Appel in der bayerschen Pfalz vorlegten, deren Beschaffenheit mehr auf ein Wirbelthier mit Füssen als auf einen Fisch schliessen Hess. Dieses merkwürdige kleine Geschöpf habe ich Anfangs 1844, es Apateon pedestris nennend, beschrieben (Jahrb. f. Min. 1844. S. 336), später aber in den Palaeontographicis (1. S. 152. Taf. 20. Fig. t.) dargelegt. Drei Jahre darauf gelang es dem Berghauptmann v. Dechen in den Sphärosideritnieren der Steinkohlenformation zu Lebach im Saarbrücken'schen, woraus zuvor ebenfalls nur Fische bekannt waren , Ueberreste zu entdecken , welche an die Gegenwart von Sauriern in diesem Ge- bilde glauben Hessen. Mit dem zu Münster-Appel gefundenen Thier stimmten sie nicht überein. Die erste Nachricht darüber theilte Goldfuss in der Niederrheinischen Gesellschaft für Natur- und Heilkunde in Bonn am 18. Februar 1847 mit.
    [Show full text]
  • Morphology, Phylogeny, and Evolution of Diadectidae (Cotylosauria: Diadectomorpha)
    Morphology, Phylogeny, and Evolution of Diadectidae (Cotylosauria: Diadectomorpha) by Richard Kissel A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy Graduate Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto © Copyright by Richard Kissel 2010 Morphology, Phylogeny, and Evolution of Diadectidae (Cotylosauria: Diadectomorpha) Richard Kissel Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto 2010 Abstract Based on dental, cranial, and postcranial anatomy, members of the Permo-Carboniferous clade Diadectidae are generally regarded as the earliest tetrapods capable of processing high-fiber plant material; presented here is a review of diadectid morphology, phylogeny, taxonomy, and paleozoogeography. Phylogenetic analyses support the monophyly of Diadectidae within Diadectomorpha, the sister-group to Amniota, with Limnoscelis as the sister-taxon to Tseajaia + Diadectidae. Analysis of diadectid interrelationships of all known taxa for which adequate specimens and information are known—the first of its kind conducted—positions Ambedus pusillus as the sister-taxon to all other forms, with Diadectes sanmiguelensis, Orobates pabsti, Desmatodon hesperis, Diadectes absitus, and (Diadectes sideropelicus + Diadectes tenuitectes + Diasparactus zenos) representing progressively more derived taxa in a series of nested clades. In light of these results, it is recommended herein that the species Diadectes sanmiguelensis be referred to the new genus
    [Show full text]