Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T12:12:00.300Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Phylogeny and origin of Jurassic irregular echinoids (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 December 2006

THOMAS SAUCÈDE
Affiliation:
UMR CNRS 5561 Biogéosciences, Université de Bourgogne, 6 bd Gabriel, F-21000 Dijon, France
RICH MOOI
Affiliation:
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, USA
BRUNO DAVID
Affiliation:
UMR CNRS 5561 Biogéosciences, Université de Bourgogne, 6 bd Gabriel, F-21000 Dijon, France

Abstract

A phylogenetic analysis of Jurassic irregular echinoids is realized to explore the origin and early evolution of this important subset of echinoids. The phylogeny is based on 39 characters and considers data from apical system architecture, the corona including tuberculation and spines, Aristotle's lantern, and general test shape. Results corroborate the monophyly of Irregularia, and clarify the phylogenetic interrelationships existing between the main groups of irregular echinoids. Specializations of the Aristotle's lantern, spines, tubercles and phyllodes constitute the apomorphies for different taxa, as for the whole of Irregularia. The phylogenetic signal yielded by these characters highlights the importance of the environmental context of the origin and diversification of irregular echinoids. The definition of ‘irregularity’ is re-examined, rejecting exocyclism and characters of the apical system as appropriate synapomorphies, and stressing the importance of other characters, particularly the high density and small size of tubercles and spines. A new clade name, Infraclypeidae [P], and phylocode designations (stem-based diagnoses) are proposed for the clades Irregularia, Eognathostomata, Microstomata, Neognathostomata and Atelostomata. Other groupings formerly used (Pygasteroida, Galeropygidae and Menopygidae) are considered paraphyletic.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
© 2007 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)