Neopterygian phylogeny: the merger assay

A groundbreaking phylogenetic analysis of neopterygian fish reveals the evolutionary relationships within the Ginglymodi clade, with Ticinolepis identified as its most basal member. The study, conducted on the UNESCO World Heritage Site Monte San Giorgio, utilized the largest morphological dataset for fossil actinopterygians to date, merging previously published characters with new ones. It confirms the monophyly of Teleostei and Holostei, while also challenging established classifications such as the non-monophyly of ionoscopiforms and the distinctness of caturids from amiiforms. The research highlights rapid radiations during the Early to Late Triassic and a second wave in the Early Jurassic, providing insights into the diversification patterns of these clades.

López-Arbarello, A., & Sferco, E. (2018). Neopterygian phylogeny: the merger assay. Royal Society Open Science, 5(3), 172337. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.172337