The Biology and Diversity of Extant Reptiles.

... The Biology and Diversity of Extant Reptiles. The word reptile itself does not describe a monophyletic group of vertebrates, like the mammals or birds. It is used to classify a polyphyletic group of animals that are a subset of the larger group of Amniotes. The term is best described through a cladogram: Dr. Paul M. Barrett 2001 The reptiles first appeared in the early Carboniferous, having evolved from labyrinthodont amphibians. They had several distinct advantages over the amphibians that allowed them to flourish during the cold, dry Permian period. These lead them to be the most successful group of vertebrates and this period was referred to as the "age of reptiles." They exploited all terrestrial niches, a few marine and even one group took to the air. No other group of vertebrates had ever displayed such diversity and mammals today are their only match. They were the first group of tetrapods to successfully

want to read more? →