Sauropoda is among the most diverse and widespread dinosaurlineages, having attained a near-global distribution by the Middle Jurassic that was built on throughout the Cretaceous. These giganticherbivores are characterized by numerous skeletal specializationsthat accrued over a 140 million-year history. This fascinating evolutionaryhistory has fuelled interest for more than a century, yet aspects of sauropod interrelationships remain unresolved. This paper presentsa lower-level phylogenetic analysis of Sauropoda in two parts. First, the two most comprehensive analyses of Sauropoda are critiqued toidentify points of agreement and difference and to create a core of character data for subsequent analyses. Second, a generic-levelphylogenetic analysis of 234 characters in 27 sauropod taxa is presentedthat identifies well supported nodes as well as areas of poorerresolution. The analysis resolves six sauropod outgroups to Neosauropoda, which comprises the large-nostrilled clade Macronaria and the peg-toothedclade Diplodocoidea. Diplodocoidea includes Rebbachisauridae, Dicraeosauridae, and Diplodocidae, whose monophyly and interrelationships are supportedlargely by cranial and vertebral synapomorphies. In contrast, thearrangement of macronarians, particularly those of titanosaurs, are based on a preponderance of appendicular synapomorphies. The purported Chinese clade 'Euhelopodidae' is shown to comprisea polyphyletic array of basal sauropods and neosauropods. The synapomorphiessupporting this topology allow more specific determination for themore than 50 fragmentary sauropod taxa not included in this analysis. Their distribution and phylogenetic affinities underscore the diversity of Titanosauria and the paucity of Late Triassic and Early Jurassicgenera. The diversification of Titanosauria during the Cretaceousand origin of the sauropod body plan duringthe Late Triassic remain frontiers for future studies.

Jeffrey A. Wilson

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society

LINNEAN SOCIETY 的动物学杂志发表了关于系统和进化动物学以及与这些领域相关的比较、功能和其他研究的论文。包括对已灭绝和现存动物的研究。评论也发表；这些可能会受到编辑委员会的邀请，但也可能会考虑不请自来的评论。动物学杂志在动物学家中也有广泛的流通，虽然不排除狭隘的专业论文，但潜在的作者应该牢记这一读者群。

The Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society is a zoological journal published by the LINNEAN SOCIETY, primarily focusing on research papers related to systematic and evolutionary zoology, as well as comparative, functional, and other studies associated with these fields. The journal includes studies on both extinct and extant animals. Additionally, it publishes review articles, which may be invited by the editorial board or considered from unsolicited submissions. The journal enjoys a broad circulation among zoologists, and while it does not exclude niche professional papers, potential authors should keep in mind this diverse readership.

《Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society》是LINNEAN SOCIETY出版的动物学期刊，主要发表关于系统与进化动物学的研究论文，以及与这些领域相关的比较、功能和其他研究。期刊内容涵盖对已灭绝和现存动物的研究。此外，期刊也会发表评论文章，这些评论可能是编辑委员会邀请的，也可能是自荐的。该期刊在动物学界有广泛的影响力，尽管不排除狭隘的专业论文，但潜在的作者应考虑到这一读者群的广泛性。

Sauropod dinosaur phylogeny: critique and cladistic analysis

A lower-level phylogenetic analysis of Sauropoda is presented, which resolves six sauropod outgroups to Neosauropoda, which comprises the large-nostrilled clade Macronaria and the peg-toothedclade Diplodocoidea.

Category	Quartile
生物学	2
生物学, 动物学	1

Sauropod dinosaur phylogeny: critique and cladistic analysis

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