A major macroevolutionary question concerns how long-term patterns of body-size evolution are underpinned by smaller scale processes along lineages. One outstanding transition is the replacement basal therapsids (stem-group mammals) archosauromorphs, including dinosaurs, as dominant large-bodied terrestrial fauna during Triassic (approx. 252–201 million years ago). This landmark event preceded more than 150 archosauromorph dominance. We analyse a new dataset 400 therapsid and species...

The origin and early radiation of archosaurs closely related taxa (Archosauriformes) during the Triassic was a critical event in evolutionary history tetrapods. This led to dinosaur-dominated ecosystems Jurassic Cretaceous, high present-day archosaur diversity that includes around 10,000 bird crocodylian species. timing dynamics this are currently obscured by poorly constrained phylogenetic positions several key archosauriform taxa, including species from Middle Argentina (Gracilisuchus...

Archosauromorpha originated in the middle-late Permian, radiated during Triassic, and gave rise to crown group Archosauria, a highly successful clade of reptiles terrestrial ecosystems over last 250 million years. However, scientific attention has mainly focused on diversification archosaurs, while their stem lineage (i.e. non-archosaurian archosauromorphs) often been overlooked discussions evolutionary success Archosauria. Here, we analyse cranial disparity late Permian Early Jurassic...

Since its discovery, Euparkeria capensis has been a key taxon for understanding the early evolution of archosaurs. The braincase was described based on single specimen, but much uncertainty remained. For first time, all available material is re-examined using micro-computed tomography scanning. Contrary to previous work, parabasisphenoid does not form posterior border fenestra ovalis in lateral view, it bear dorsal projection that forms anteroventral half fenestra. No bone pneumatization...

Archosauria (birds, crocodilians and their extinct relatives) form a major part of terrestrial ecosystems today, with over 10 000 living species, came to dominate the land for most Mesozoic (over 150 Myr) after radiating following Permian-Triassic extinction. The archosaur skull has been essential this diversification, itself diversified into myriad forms. archosauriform Euparkeria capensis from Middle Triassic (Anisian) South Africa great interest since its initial description in 1913,...

Proterosuchidae represents the oldest substantial diversification of Archosauromorpha and plays a key role in understanding biotic recovery after end-Permian mass extinction. was long treated as wastebasket taxon, but recent revisions have reduced its taxonomic content to five valid species from latest Permian Russia earliest Triassic (Induan) South Africa China. In addition these occurrences, several isolated proterosuchid bones been reported Induan Panchet Formation India for over 150...

Erythrosuchidae is a clade of early archosauriform reptiles, which were apex predators in many late Early and Middle Triassic ecosystems, following the Permo-Triassic mass extinction. Erythrosuchids had worldwide distribution, with well-preserved fossil material known from South Africa, European Russia, China. We here redescribe anatomy revise taxonomy Guchengosuchus shiguaiensis, one stratigraphically oldest erythrosuchids single partial skeleton lowermost (lower Anisian) lower Ermaying...

Abiotic and biological factors have been hypothesized as controlling maximum body size of tetrapods other animals through geological time. We analyse the effects three abiotic factors—oxygen, temperature land area—on Permian–Jurassic archosauromorphs therapsids, Cenozoic mammals, using time series generalized least-squares regression models. also examine growth curves for data by comparing fits Gompertz logistic When serial correlation is removed, we find no robust correlations, indicating...

The South African species Euparkeria capensis is of great importance for understanding the early radiation archosauromorphs (including archosaurs) following Permo–Triassic mass extinction, as most phylogenetic analyses place it sister taxon to crown group Archosauria within clade Archosauriformes. Although a number from Lower–Middle Triassic deposits worldwide have been referred putative Euparkeriidae, monophyly Euparkeriidae controversial and has yet be demonstrated by quantitative...

For the first time, a phylogenetic analysis including all putative euparkeriid taxa is conducted, using large data matrix analysed with maximum parsimony and Bayesian analysis. Using parsimony, Dorosuchus neoetus from Russia sister taxon to Archosauria + Phytosauria. Euparkeria capensis placed one node further crown, forms clade Chinese Halazhaisuchus qiaoensis ‘ Turfanosuchus shageduensis ’ Polish Osmolskina czatkowicensis . methods, are within Euparkeriidae, in turn then polytomy...

Abstract E uparkeria capensis is resolved as the sister taxon to A rchosauria in many cladistic phylogenies and provides a key outgroup which may approximate ancestral archosaur morphology. Several other taxa have been referred family uparkeriidae, but monophyly of this remains doubtful largely untested. To test monophyly, archosauriform putative euparkeriid D orosuchus neoetus from M id‐ T riassic R ussia re‐examined light recent work on evolution stem archosaurs. found possess number...

The lower jaw of an unidentified Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous) tetrapod from Nova Scotia – the "Parrsboro jaw"- is redescribed in light recent discoveries and work on evolution mandibular morphology placed for first time a numerical cladistics analysis. All phylogenetic analyses place crownward polytomy baphetids, temnospondyls, embolomeres. Several features resemble baphetids temnospondyls including dermal ornamentation, absence coronoid teeth, presence shagreen. Dentary dentition most...

How historical connections, events and cultural proximity can influence human development is being increasingly recognized. One aspect of history that has only recently begun to be examined deep ancestry, i.e. the vertical relationships descent between cultures, which represented by a phylogenetic tree descent. Here, we test whether ancestry predicts United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) for 44 Eurasian countries, using language as proxy relatedness controlling three additional...

Adaptive radiations have played a major role in generating modern and deep-time biodiversity. The Triassic radiation of the Archosauromorpha was one most spectacular vertebrate radiations, giving rise to many highly ecomorphologically varied lineages—including dinosaurs, pterosaurs, stem-crocodylians—that dominated larger-bodied land fauna for following 150 Ma, ultimately gave today’s > 10,000 species birds crocodylians. This provides an outstanding testbed hypotheses relating...

Abstract Euparkeria capensis has long been considered an archetype for the ancestral archosaur morphology, and placed just outside of crown Archosauria by nearly all cladistic analyses. Six species are currently to be putative members a clade Euparkeriidae, have collected from Olenekian- or Anisian-aged deposits in South Africa ( – only definitive member group), China Halazhaisuchus qiaoensis , Wangisuchus tzeyii ‘ Turfanosuchus ’ shageduensis ), Russia Dorosuchus neoetus ) Poland Osmolskina...

Abstract Phylogenies for fossil taxa must be inferred from morphology, but accuracy of inference is questionable. Here, morphological characters extant crocodilians are investigated to assess how improve accuracy. The homoplasy assessed against a DNA-based phylogenetic tree. Cranial significantly less homoplastic, this result perhaps confounded by research effort. Meristic more homoplastic and should used with caution. Characters were reassessed first hand documented. Those passing tests...

Fossils are a non-renewable natural resource that is not only important to science but also has immense value for education, tourism and commercial trade. Although the importance of sustainably managing exceptionally rich fossil localities widely acknowledged, it universal irreplaceable scientific information socioeconomic benefits being lost. This study provides an overview economic, social environmental factors affecting 10 contrasting in Germany, China, Brazil, United Kingdom, Canada,...