The relationships of the Euparkeriidae and the rise of Archosauria

Abstract

For the first time, a phylogenetic analysis including all putative euparkeriid taxa is conducted, using a large data matrix analysed with maximum parsimony and Bayesian analysis. Using parsimony, the putative euparkeriidDorosuchus neoetus from Russia is the sister taxon to Archosauria+Phytosauria. Euparkeria capensis is placed one node further from the crown, and forms a euparkeriid clade with the Chinese taxa Halazhaisuchus qiaoensisand ‘Turfanosuchus shageduensis’and the Polish taxon Osmolskina czatkowicensis. Using Bayesian methods,OsmolskinaandHalazhaisuchusare sister taxa within Euparkeriidae, in turn sister to ‘Turfanosuchus shageduensis’and then Euparkeria capensis.