The importance of global parsimony and historical bias in understanding tetrapod evolution. Part I. Systematics, middle ear evolution and jaw suspension

Abstract

A phylogenetic analysis based on a data matrix of 43 taxa and 155 osteological characters has produced a new hypothesis of tetrapod phylogeny that is drastically different from the established consensus. Among Paleozoic taxa, only diadectomorphs appear to be related to amniotes. In contrast to previous hypotheses, lissamphibians appear to have been derived from lepospondyls. Seymouriamorphs, gephyrostegids, embolomeres, temnospondyls, and loxommatids are stem-tetrapods. The new phylogeny suggests that the absence of a tympanic middle ear in salamanders and gymnophiones is a primitive character.