Cited by 345Paleontology and Evolutionary BiologyEvolution and Paleontology StudiesAmphibian and Reptile Biology

Phylogenetics, taxonomy, and historical biogeography of Alligatoroidea.

Brochu, Christopher A.·1999·Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology

Abstract

Alligatoroidea, a stem-based group including living alligators and caimans and all taxa closer to them than to Crocodylus or Gavialis, includes seven living species and a large diversity of extinct taxa extending back to the Campanian (Late Cretaceous). Parsimony analysis of 164 discrete morphological characters supports several previous hypotheses based on morphology and molecules: Diplocynodon, from the European Tertiary, is a monophyletic alligatoroid lineage; Brachychampsa and Stangerochampsa are derived alligatoroid taxa but not demonstrably within the crown-group Alligatoridae; and, within the crown-group, caimans form a robust clade. However, this study indicates the paraphyly of “Allognathosuchus;” the alligatoroid affinities of Leidyosuchus canadensL but not of most other “Leidyosuchus;” the very distant relationship between Hylaeochampsa and any extant crocodylian lineage, including Alligatoroidea; and the fact that Diplocynodon must extend at least as far as the Campanian, even though the oldest well-known Diplocynodon are from the Eocene. This work supports a close relationship between Diplocynodon and Baryphracta deponiae from the Eocene of Germany; monophyly of Alligator and the caiman assemblage as currently applied in the literature; the caiman affinities of the bizarre nettosuchids and Purussaurus; and a closer relationship between Caiman latirostris and Melanosuchus niger than between C. latirostris and other Caiman. Phylogenetic taxonomic principles have be…

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Crossref · 10.1080/02724634.1999.10011201

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Authors
Brochu, C. A.
Affiliations
The University of Texas at Austin (US)
Corresponding author
Brochu, Christopher A.
Venue
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
Published
1999-06-14
Volume
19
Issue
sup002
Pages
9-100
ISSN
  • 0272-4634 (ISSN-L)
  • 1937-2809
OpenAlex
W2063618699
Cited by
345
References
205
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 9
FWCI
6.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Amphibian and Reptile Biology
Keywords
Alligatoroidea, phylogenetic systematics, historical biogeography, Diplocynodon, Alligatoridae, caimans, alligators, Caiman latirostris, Melanosuchus niger, phylogenetic taxonomy, crocodilians

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