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- Title
The Origin And Intrarelationships Of Triassic Capitosaurid Amphibians.
- Authors
Schoch, Rainer R.
- Abstract
The status of the temnospondyl family Capitosauridae is reviewed. Only by the inclusion of the genera<E1>Mastodonsaurus</E1><E1>Eocyclotosaurus</E1>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<E1>Mastodonsaurus</E1><E1>Eocyclotosaurus</E1>are sister taxa of<E1>Benthosuchus</E1>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<E1>Parotosuchus</E1>(which do not necessarily form a monophylum); (2) the genera<E1>Eryosuchus</E1><E1>Mastodonsaurus</E1>(which are probably monophyletic); and (3) a range of taxa with semi-closed or entirely closed otic notches, including the genera<E1>Wellesaurus</E1><E1>Kupferzellia</E1><E1>Eocyclotosaurus</E1>, and<E1>Cyclotosaurus</E1>. 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.<E5>key words</E5>: Temospondyli, Stereospondyli, Capitosauridae, phylogeny.
- Subjects
AMPHIBIANS; PHYLOGENY; ANIMALS
- Publication
Palaeontology, 2000, Vol 43, Issue 4, p705
- ISSN
0031-0239
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/1475-4983.00146