Global evolutionary relationships of Devonian proetide trilobites
Data files
Aug 05, 2025 version files 28.98 KB
-
Proetida_final_updated.nex
27.68 KB
-
README.md
1.30 KB
Abstract
The Proetida likely represent the only trilobite surviving clade past the Devonian mass extinction event(s). Though members of order Proetida have long been studied, the global phylogenetic relationships across this pivotal time are still unresolved. I used a Bayesian phylogenetic approach to construct a subordinal level tree for members within superfamily Proetoidea. Two models, a relaxed and strict clock model, were compared and were used to assess past reconstructions of clades within the order. The trees from both models highlight key relationships among proetides across the Devonian and show paraphyly in groups which have been considered monophyletic in the past. Trees from both models also suggest that major groups, such as the genus Gerastos and the family Phillispidae (which represent the most diverse post-Devonian proetide group under current taxonomic schemes) are polyphyletic. This in turn suggests, in a paleobiological context, a more complex pattern of survivorship over the Late Devonian than previously suggested as well as pervasive parallelisms towards certain "Gerastos" or “phillipsid” morphotypes.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.fbg79cp7d
Description of the data and file structure
Supplementary materials include: character descriptions, coded characters, posterior probabilities in tables and on maximum-clade credibility trees, taxa and data collection information, FADS and LADS of taxa, and biogeography. The Nexus file is also provided.
Description of the Data and file structure
Most data are presented as tables, including posterior probabilities and FADs, and LADs. Other data, such as character descriptions and coded characters, are presented as lists. Additional figures, such as posterior probabilities on the relaxed and strict maximum clade credibility trees and biogeographic locations of specimens, are included.
Files and variables
File: Proetida_final_updated.nex
Description: Nexus with coded characters. Characters and character descriptions can be found in the supplementary information.
Access information
Data was derived from the following sources:
- Literature (listed in supplement)
- American Museum of Natural History (New York, USA)
- Natural History Museum (London, UK)
- National Museum (Cardiff, Wales)
- Field Museum (Chicago, USA)
