The colonisation of Madagascar by land‐bound vertebrates
Despite discussions extending back almost 160 years, the means by which Madagascar's
iconic land vertebrates arrived on the island remains the focus of active debate. Three …
iconic land vertebrates arrived on the island remains the focus of active debate. Three …
A review of geological evidence bearing on proposed Cenozoic land connections between Madagascar and Africa and its relevance to biogeography
For a variety of reasons, Madagascar's rich and highly distinctive faunal assemblage has
long attracted attention. Recurring questions with the associated studies have concerned …
long attracted attention. Recurring questions with the associated studies have concerned …
A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes
Background The extant squamates (> 9400 known species of lizards and snakes) are one of
the most diverse and conspicuous radiations of terrestrial vertebrates, but no studies have …
the most diverse and conspicuous radiations of terrestrial vertebrates, but no studies have …
A species-level phylogeny of extant snakes with description of a new colubrid subfamily and genus
Background With over 3,500 species encompassing a diverse range of morphologies and
ecologies, snakes make up 36% of squamate diversity. Despite several attempts at …
ecologies, snakes make up 36% of squamate diversity. Despite several attempts at …
Interrogating genomic-scale data for Squamata (lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians) shows no support for key traditional morphological relationships
Genomics is narrowing uncertainty in the phylogenetic structure for many amniote groups.
For one of the most diverse and species-rich groups, the squamate reptiles (lizards, snakes …
For one of the most diverse and species-rich groups, the squamate reptiles (lizards, snakes …
Assembling the squamate tree of life: perspectives from the phenotype and the fossil record
We assembled a dataset of 192 carefully selected species—51 extinct and 141 extant—and
976 apomorphies distributed among 610 phenotypic characters to investigate the phylogeny …
976 apomorphies distributed among 610 phenotypic characters to investigate the phylogeny …
Decline of a biome: evolution, contraction, fragmentation, extinction and invasion of the Australian mesic zone biota
Aim The mesic biome, encompassing both rain forest and open sclerophyllous forests, is
central to understanding the evolution of Australia's terrestrial biota and has long been …
central to understanding the evolution of Australia's terrestrial biota and has long been …
The origin of snakes: revealing the ecology, behavior, and evolutionary history of early snakes using genomics, phenomics, and the fossil record
Background The highly derived morphology and astounding diversity of snakes has long
inspired debate regarding the ecological and evolutionary origin of both the snake total …
inspired debate regarding the ecological and evolutionary origin of both the snake total …
A taxonomic framework for typhlopid snakes from the Caribbean and other regions (Reptilia, Squamata)
The evolutionary history and taxonomy of worm-like snakes (scolecophidians) continues to
be refined as new molecular data are gathered and analyzed. Here we present additional …
be refined as new molecular data are gathered and analyzed. Here we present additional …
Coming to America: multiple origins of New World geckos
Abstract Geckos in the Western Hemisphere provide an excellent model to study faunal
assembly at a continental scale. We generated a time‐calibrated phylogeny, including …
assembly at a continental scale. We generated a time‐calibrated phylogeny, including …