Occupying the role of primary consumer and having an early–middle Permian age range, caseids (Caseasauria, Synapsida) are fundamental to the interpretation of the early history of terrestrial vertebrate ecosystems. Despite this importance, no comprehensive, species-level phylogenetic study of Caseidae has yet been performed. Herein, we present a phylogenetic analysis of the group, using gap weighting to include poorly known taxa. Besides the description and comments on the resultant topologies, some more general issues concerning cladistic methodologies are briefly addressed. This study highlights the importance of a total-evidence approach, including as many within-group taxa and characters as possible. Continuously varying characters, in the form of indices derived from measurement of individual skeletal elements, proved to be highly important, adding significantly to the resolution of, and support for, recovered trees. The utility of the postcranial skeleton in understanding relationships among basal synapsids is highlighted.

Cladistic analysis of Caseidae (Caseasauria, Synapsida). Using the gap-weighting method to include taxa based on incomplete specimens / Romano, Marco; Nicosia, Umberto. - In: PALAEONTOLOGY. - ISSN 0031-0239. - STAMPA. - 58:6(2015), pp. 1109-1130. [10.1111/pala.12197]

Cladistic analysis of Caseidae (Caseasauria, Synapsida). Using the gap-weighting method to include taxa based on incomplete specimens

ROMANO, MARCO;NICOSIA, Umberto
2015

Abstract

Occupying the role of primary consumer and having an early–middle Permian age range, caseids (Caseasauria, Synapsida) are fundamental to the interpretation of the early history of terrestrial vertebrate ecosystems. Despite this importance, no comprehensive, species-level phylogenetic study of Caseidae has yet been performed. Herein, we present a phylogenetic analysis of the group, using gap weighting to include poorly known taxa. Besides the description and comments on the resultant topologies, some more general issues concerning cladistic methodologies are briefly addressed. This study highlights the importance of a total-evidence approach, including as many within-group taxa and characters as possible. Continuously varying characters, in the form of indices derived from measurement of individual skeletal elements, proved to be highly important, adding significantly to the resolution of, and support for, recovered trees. The utility of the postcranial skeleton in understanding relationships among basal synapsids is highlighted.
2015
gap weighting; cladistics; Permian; terrestrial communities
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Cladistic analysis of Caseidae (Caseasauria, Synapsida). Using the gap-weighting method to include taxa based on incomplete specimens / Romano, Marco; Nicosia, Umberto. - In: PALAEONTOLOGY. - ISSN 0031-0239. - STAMPA. - 58:6(2015), pp. 1109-1130. [10.1111/pala.12197]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Romano_Cladistic_2015.pdf

solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 1.62 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.62 MB Adobe PDF   Contatta l'autore

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/803227
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 24
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 24
social impact