The Vertebrate Story

1
The Vertebrate Story Group names in quotes do
not represent monophyletic groups. They are names
that are used for convenience in discussing
vertebrate evolution. Groups in quotes often
represent paraphyletic or polyphyletic
assemblages.
2
Vertebrata early agnathan vertebrates of
uncertain affinity
Haikouella and Haikouichthys 540mya early
Cambrian
Conodonts 500-210mya late Cambrian late
Triassic
3
Vertebrata Agnatha Myxiniformes
4
Vertebrata Agnatha Petromyzontiformes
5
Vertebrata Agnatha Ostracoderms
6
Vertebrata Agnatha Ostracoderms
7
Gnathostomata Placodermi
8
Gnathostomata Chondrichthyes
Elasmobranchii Holocephali
9
Gnathostomata Teleostomi Acanthodii
Climatius
10
Teleostomi Osteichthyes Actinopterygii
11
Teleostomi Osteichthyes Actinopterygii
12
Teleostomi Osteichthyes Actinopterygii
Teleostei
13
Osteichthyes Sarcopterygii Actinistia
Latimeria (Coelacanth)
14
Osteichthyes Sarcopterygii Dipnoi
Neoceratodus Australia
Protopterus Africa
Lepidosiren S. America
15
Sarcopterygii Ripidistia
Eusthenopteron
Panderichthyes
16
Sarcopterygii Tetrapoda
Acanthostega
17
Sarcopterygii Tetrapoda
18
Tetrapoda Amphibia Lissamphibia
Gymnophiona (Apoda) Caecilians
Salientia (Anura) Frogs
Urodela (Caudata) Salamanders
19
Tetrapoda Amniota
The cleidoic/amniote egg
20
Amniota Sauropsida Diapsida
Ichthyosauria
Sauropterygia Plesiosauria
Archosauria
Lepidosauria
21
Amniota Sauropsida Diapsida Lepidosauria
Sphenodontidae
Squamata
22
Amniota Sauropsida Diapsida Archosauria
Dinosauria Saurischia Sauropodomorpha
Crocodilia
Saurischia Theropoda
Pterosauria
Theropoda Aves
Dinosauria Ornithischia
23
Amniota Sauropsida Diapsida?
Archosauromorpha? Testudines
24
Amniota Synapsida
Extinct synapsids
25
Amniota Synapsida Mammalia
Mammalia Monotremata
Theria Eutheria
Mammalia Theria Metatheria