Integration of molecules and new fossils supports a Triassic origin for Lepidosauria (lizards, snakes, and tuatara)

• Published in: BMC evolutionary biology Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 208
• Main Authors: Jones, Marc E H, Anderson, Cajsa Lisa, Hipsley, Christy A, Müller, Johannes, Evans, Susan E, Schoch, Rainer R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 25.09.2013; BioMed Central
• Subjects: 1980; 1990; Animals; ATES OF AMERICA; Biological Evolution; Biological Sciences; Biologiska vetenskaper; Calibration; CALIBRATION POINTS; Colleges & universities; Data processing; Dating; DIAPSIDA LEPIDOSAURIA; Digital Object Identifier; EARLY DIVERSIFICATION; Environmental science; Estimates; Evolution; Extinction, Biological; Fossil; Fossils; Genetic aspects; Germany; GREEN RIVER FORMATION; Jurassic; JURASSIC KOTA FORMATION; Lepidosauria; Lizards; Lizards - anatomy & histology; Lizards - classification; Lizards - genetics; LNER AR; MASS EXTINCTION; Mass extinction theory; MITOCHONDRIAL GENOMES; Molecular; Museums; NATURE; Origin; OTHERO DR; P13410; P484; P6721; P873; PALAEONTOLOGY; PHYLOGENETIC-RELATIONSHIPS; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; RAUISUCHIAN ARCHOSAUR; Reptiles; Reptiles - anatomy & histology; Reptiles - classification; Reptiles - genetics; Snakes - anatomy & histology; Snakes - classification; Snakes - genetics; Squamata; SQUAMATE REPTILES; Triassic; Tuatara; V106; V107; V286; V33; Zoology; Germany; India; United Kingdom > UK

Lepidosauria (lizards, snakes, tuatara) is a globally distributed and ecologically important group of over 9,000 reptile species. The earliest fossil records are currently restricted to the Late Triassic and often dated to 227 million years ago (Mya). As these early records include taxa that are rel...