Unenlagiidae phylogenetic relationships among Paraves
176 views
Skip to first unread message
Ben Creisler
Aug 22, 2025, 11:30:22 AMAug 22
to DinosaurMa...@googlegroups.com
Ben Creisler
A new paper:
=====
Matías J. Motta, Federico L. Agnolín, Federico Brissón Egli, Sebastián Rozadilla & Fernando E. Novas (2025)
Phylogenetic relationships of Unenlagiidae among Paraves (Dinosauria)
Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 23(1): 2529608
doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2025.2529608
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772019.2025.2529608
In recent years, several studies on the osteology, myology and palaeobiology of southern paravians of the clade Unenlagiidae have considerably increased the information on the group. Nevertheless, their phylogenetic relationships in the theropod phylogenetic tree remain under discussion. Unenlagiids were proposed as early divergent members of Avialae or as members of Dromaeosauridae. Using as a base the most comprehensive known coelurosaurian data matrix (TWiG dataset), we aimed to test the phylogenetic affinities of unenlagiids. The dataset includes new available information, scorings based on direct observation of materials, and the addition of 15 taxa (including the Gondwanan Imperobator, Pamparaptor, Unenlagia paynemili and Overoraptor), and 23 characters. The phylogenetic trees obtained in the present analysis support the inclusion of all Gondwanan paravians in the clade Unenlagiidae, as early divergent members of Avialae, and outside of Dromaeosauridae. This emphasizes the importance of Unenlagiidae in interpreting the phylogenetic relationships and early evolution of avialans.
Matías J. Motta, Federico L. Agnolín, Federico Brissón Egli, Sebastián Rozadilla & Fernando E. Novas (2025)
Phylogenetic relationships of Unenlagiidae among Paraves (Dinosauria)
Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 23(1): 2529608
doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2025.2529608
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772019.2025.2529608
In recent years, several studies on the osteology, myology and palaeobiology of southern paravians of the clade Unenlagiidae have considerably increased the information on the group. Nevertheless, their phylogenetic relationships in the theropod phylogenetic tree remain under discussion. Unenlagiids were proposed as early divergent members of Avialae or as members of Dromaeosauridae. Using as a base the most comprehensive known coelurosaurian data matrix (TWiG dataset), we aimed to test the phylogenetic affinities of unenlagiids. The dataset includes new available information, scorings based on direct observation of materials, and the addition of 15 taxa (including the Gondwanan Imperobator, Pamparaptor, Unenlagia paynemili and Overoraptor), and 23 characters. The phylogenetic trees obtained in the present analysis support the inclusion of all Gondwanan paravians in the clade Unenlagiidae, as early divergent members of Avialae, and outside of Dromaeosauridae. This emphasizes the importance of Unenlagiidae in interpreting the phylogenetic relationships and early evolution of avialans.
Tim Williams
Aug 25, 2025, 4:25:00 AM (13 days ago) Aug 25
to DinosaurMa...@googlegroups.com
According to the full tree (in Supplemental material) the Jinguofortisidae is resolved within Ornithothoraces, as the most basal clade of Enantiornithes. So quite a step up - previously the jinguofortisids were found to be more basal than _Sapeornis_. (Though this more crownward position might just be a consequence of the number of ornithothoracine taxa sampled.)
Curiously, the authors state that they "recovered microraptorians, unenlagiids and anchiornithids as birds". But they also stick to the definition of Avialae as "all taxa closer to _Passer_ than _Troodon_ and _Dromaeosaurus_". I assume Avialae = birds. Since the authors also found Microraptoria to be a subclade of Dromaeosauridae, then microraptorians can't be members of Avialae - and so they therefore aren't birds.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Dinosaur Mailing Group" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to DinosaurMailingG...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/DinosaurMailingGroup/CAMR9O1KQnka%2BHvs_t-vDzG7G4Car5SKn-U5u-THToLEpuvXxpg%40mail.gmail.com.
Ben Creisler
Aug 28, 2025, 12:28:32 PM (10 days ago) Aug 28
to DinosaurMa...@googlegroups.com
The pdf is now free:
Free pdf:
Matías J. Motta, Federico L. Agnolín, Federico Brissón Egli, Sebastián Rozadilla & Fernando E. Novas (2025)
Phylogenetic relationships of Unenlagiidae among Paraves (Dinosauria)
Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 23(1): 2529608
doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2025.2529608
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772019.2025.2529608
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages