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Phylogeny of Early Cretaceous spatangoids (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) and taxonomic implications
Author(s) -
Villier Loïc,
Néraudeau Didier,
Clavel Bernard,
Neumann Christian,
David Bruno
Publication year - 2004
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/j.0031-0239.2004.00364.x
Subject(s) - paraphyly , monophyly , biology , clade , phylogenetic tree , taxon , phylogenetics , zoology , cladistics , taxonomy (biology) , evolutionary biology , paleontology , gene , biochemistry
A phylogenetic analysis of 36 species provides a test for the taxonomy and the history of Early Cretaceous spatangoids. Most taxonomic units from genera to suborders are consistent with the proposed phylogenetic framework. We retain Hemiasterina, Micrasterina, Hemiasteridae, Schizasteridae, Hemiaster , Heteraster , Mecaster , and Periaster as original monophyletic groups. However, all of these clades originate without the classical apomorphies normally ascribed to them. We suggest a revision of their diagnoses and of the generic attributions of basal species. Some ill‐defined, ‘primitive’, and paraphyletic taxa are recognised: Toxaster , Epiaster , Palhemiaster , and Toxasteridae. Even if they do not have phylogenetic meaning, they are retained here, pending a more complete revision.