• The unbearable uncertainty of panarthropod relationships

    From erik simpson@21:1/5 to All on Thu Mar 30 11:12:20 2023
    https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2022.0497 (open access)

    This paper discusses the difficulties in establishing definitive phylogenies of the basic divisions within Ecdysozoa. The conclusion reached is that at present the data and methods are incapable of distinguishing between three competing and incompatible
    hypotheses. The principle monkey wrench is the question of placement of Tardigrada. The different possibilities are clearly laid out in Fig 1.

    Possible resolution of some the difficulties are suggested in the "Discussion" section, along with strong support for further analysis to include both mophological and genetic data wherever it is availble. If Tardigrada were an extinct phylum, there'd
    be little chance of placing it definitively within Ecdysozoa, but remarkably they're still with us. Maybe they will yet tell their story.

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