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The Origin And Intrarelationships Of Triassic Capitosaurid Amphibians
Author(s) -
Schoch Rainer R.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
palaeontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.69
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1475-4983
pISSN - 0031-0239
DOI - 10.1111/1475-4983.00146
Subject(s) - monophyly , sister group , taxon , biology , range (aeronautics) , paleontology , key (lock) , zoology , evolutionary biology , phylogenetics , ecology , clade , biochemistry , materials science , gene , composite material
The status of the temnospondyl family Capitosauridae is reviewed. Only by the inclusion of the genera Mastodonsaurus Eocyclotosaurus can this group be considered monophyletic. This view is based on a range of robust characters which in combination constitute the most parsimonious hypothesis. The traditional view that Mastodonsaurus Eocyclotosaurus are sister taxa of Benthosuchus is demonstrated to be based on highly variable and/or homoplastic features, whose ancestral condition is moreover uncertain. The Capitosauridae encompasses the following successive sister groups: (1) various species of Parotosuchus (which do not necessarily form a monophylum); (2) the genera Eryosuchus Mastodonsaurus (which are probably monophyletic); and (3) a range of taxa with semi‐closed or entirely closed otic notches, including the genera Wellesaurus Kupferzellia Eocyclotosaurus , and Cyclotosaurus . The closure of the otic notch, an oft‐cited trend among capitosaurs, is most easily explained to have occurred only once, namely within the more advanced capitosaurids; the stratigraphical significance of this feature is, however, very limited. key words : Temospondyli, Stereospondyli, Capitosauridae, phylogeny.