Yesterday we looked at pertinent traits 1-39 from the large reptile tree that had a character distribution and division at the base of the reptilia. Today we’ll continue with traits 40-128, finishing up the cranial traits.
45. Frontal with posterior processes – new Archosauromorpha.
46. Intertemporal absent (actually fused to the parietal making it that much wider) – the Reptilia
48. Postparietals (and tabulars and supratemporals) angled dorsally – the Reptilia
52. 69. Squamosal descent angle is a big curve, the so-called otic notch, in pre-reptiles. It is obtuse and not indented in reptilia (but reversed following Romeria primus).
53. Postorbital/parietal contact (remember #46 the intertemporal becomes fused to the parietal making this possible) – the Reptilia
56. Postorbital appears as a strip beneath an overlapping postfrontal in Gephyrostegus to new Lepidosauromorpha. The postorbital is otherwise triangular.
57. Frontal/nasal angle is > 45 degrees from the midline in pre-reptiles and the new Lepidosauromorpha. The angle forms a zig-zag in the new Archosauromorpha.
58. Frontal proportions are not less than 4:1 in pre-reptiles and the new Archosauromorpha. The proportions are less than 4:1 in the new Lepidosauromorpha but not Cephalerpeton.
64. The squamosal descends to mid-level, due to a posteriorly deep quadratojugal in pre-reptiles and the new Lepidosauromorpha. The squamosal extends to the ventral rim in the new Archosauromorpha.
73. The quadrate leans anteriorly in pre-reptiles and the new Archosauromorpha, but this short bone is vertical in the new Lepidosauromorpha.
79. The opisthotic rises in pre-reptiles, but is lateral with posterior fenestra in reptiles.
82. The supratemporal is long, not large in reptiles, but this reverses in the new Lepidosauromorpha after Romeria primus.
94. The suborbital fenestra is present in the new Lepidosauromorpha, but not in Cephalerpeton.
96. The vomer teeth are small, not fang-like in the Reptilia.
102. Pterygoid extends anterior to the palatines – restricted to Brouffia and Captorhinidae, but this character is largely unknown in basal reptiles due to various taphonomic circumstances
105. Pterygoid triangular – Gephyrostegus + Reptilia
108. Premaxilla tooth number – Gephyrostegus and Brouffia have 4. Cephalerpeton to the concordians have less than 4. All others have more than 4.
109. Medial premaxillary tooth longer than the others – the new Lepidosauromorpha
113. Canine maxillary teeth – Captorhinidae + several new Lepidosauromorpha and paleothyrids in the new Archosauromorpha by convergence
119. Mandible tip – rises in Cephalerpeton to Concordia, descends in Captorhinidae and is straight in all others
128. Mandible shape ventrally – straight anteriorly then convex posteriorly in pre-reptiles to Brouffia. Straight in Westlothiana and derived taxa. Convex in the new Lepidosauromorpha.
Post-crania tomorrow.
The Pterosaur Heresies 