Open AccessReptile phylogeny and the interrelationships of turtles
Author(s) -
deBRAGA MICHAEL,
RIEPPEL OLIVIER
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
zoological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.148
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1096-3642
pISSN - 0024-4082
DOI - 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1997.tb01280.x
Subject(s) - paraphyly , biology , monophyly , clade , sister group , zoology , turtle (robot) , phylogenetics , evolutionary biology , ecology , gene , biochemistry
A comprehensive analysis of amniote interrelationships is presented in an attempt to test turtle interrelationships. The results refute earlier hypotheses that turtles are related to parareptiles, i.e. to procolophonids or pareiasaurs. Instead, turtles are shown to be the sister‐group of Sauropterygia, the two clades being nested within Sauria as sister‐group of Lepidosauriformes. This scenario is also supported by several developmental and soft tissue characters which are shown to be congruent with the current phylogeny. The analysis strongly supports a monophyletic Parareptilia, sister‐group of a monophylctic Eurcptilia. The Diapsida, however, is paraphyletic unless it includes turtles and sauropterygians. Additionally, the position of turtles within Diapsida has major implications for the evolutionary history and/or significance of many characters, i.e. temporal fenestration.