Phylogenetic Relationships of Pelycosaurs

突触动物的进化被一个异常丰富的 化石记录，超过3亿年。 原始 合生类，即盘龙类，是最明显的陆生 他们的时代的脊椎动物，他们的化石遗迹记录了 最早成功的适应性辐射， 一系列的食草和食肉动物的生活方式。 私家侦探会 进行彻底的重新评估 通过结合详细的解剖结构 研究标本的分支分析，认为一个 一大群人 他们的第一手资料 组，许多pelycosaur类群的先前研究，和 三个外群的代表性标本的可用性， 直接的骨骼学比较将消除依赖 大量使用过时的文学作品 除了提供 对盘龙类内群关系的评估 目前的研究将评估Pelycosaurs的关系 其他古生代脊椎动物，包括它们的兽脚类 后裔 利用分支系统的计算机算法 技术将用于分析系统发育关系。 该项目将为分析 和古生物地理学。 PI也 希望能够构建一个宏观进化模型， 集团和解决复杂的问题的起源 脊椎动物（高等脊椎动物，包括最近的爬行动物，鸟类， 哺乳动物）。

The evolution of synapsids is documented by an unusually rich fossil record, extending over 300 million years. Primitive synapsids, the pelycosaurs, are the most conspicuous terrestrial vertebrates of their time, and their fossil remains record the earliest successful adaptive radiation of amniotes to a broad array of herbivorous and predators modes of life. The PIs will undertake a thorough reassessment of the phylogenetic relationships of pelycosaurs by combining detailed anatomical studies of specimens with a cladistic analysis that considers a large suite of characters. Their first hand knowledge of this group, previous studies of numerous pelycosaur taxa, and availability of representative specimens of three outgroups for direct osteological comparisons will eliminate the need to rely heavily on outdated literature. In addition to providing an assessment of the ingroup relationships of pelycosaurs, the present study will assess the relationship of pelycosaurs to other Paleozoic vertebrates, including their therapsid descendants. Computer algorithms that utilize cladistic techniques will be used to analyze phylogenetic relationships. This project will provide a solid basis for the analysis of the paleoecology and paleobiogeography of pelycosaurs. The PIs also expect to be able to construct a macroevolutionary model of the group and to address the perplexing problem of the origin of amniotes (higher vertebrates that include recent reptiles, birds, and mammals).