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Clade
Subclade

Taxon
Taxon
Crocodylotarsi
Nominal Author
Benton and Clark 1988
2nd Nominal Author
Taxon Status INACTIVE
Comments
Potential Synonomy
Crurotarsi

Active Phylogenetic Definition
Active Definition
Shorthand
Definitional Author
Definition Status Unknown
Definition Type Unknown
Node-Stem Triplet Unknown
Other Triplet Taxa
Specifiers
Specifier(s) A
Specifier(s) B
Specifier(s) C
Qualifiers
+Taxon
-Taxon
Datum
Taxonomic Content
Publication Year Unknown
Unknown
Unknown

Inactive Taxon Status
Rejection Criteria junior synonym
incomplete definition
Critique

The original and only definition for Crocodylotarsi is stated as “the last common ancestor of crocodiles and Parasuchia” (Parrish 1993:292). Parrish (1992:292) stated that Crocodylotarsi was coined for a clade characterized by a “crocodile-normal” tarsus. Benton and Clark (1988:339) remarked in coining the name that it represented the “crocodilian line” as opposed to the “bird line” (Ornithosuchia). Like Parrish (1993), they listed the “crocodile-normal” tarsus as a synapomorphy, and the taxon name has become associated with this apomorphy, as it was not otherwise defined (Sereno 1991:42).

Sereno (1991) positioned Parasuchia, rather than Ornithosuchidae, as the basal taxon within Crurotarsi. With this configuration, Crocodylotarsi would have identical taxonomic content to that of Crurotarsi. The two taxa (Crocodylotarsi, Crurotarsi) are very similar and were used in part as replacements for the ill-suited taxon Pseudosuchia.

Crurotarsi is preferred here for stem crocodilians because (1) it has been the taxon of choice in this regard in recent phylogenies (Juul 1994, Brochu 2001), (2) the eponymous apomophy (crurotarsal ankle) characterizes the intended clade rather than a subclade, (3) that was the stated intention of the taxon when coined (Sereno 1991:42). Crocodylotarsi could still be used as a node-based taxon as envisaged by Parrish (1993) for stem crocdilians minus Ornithosuchidae, should that clade receive aditional support in the future.

 

Definitional History #1
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The last common ancestor of crocodiles and Parasuchia.
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Parrish 1993:292
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