Early sarcopterygian morphological disparity through the Devonian-Carboniferous crisis.

ABSTRACT: Major morphological adaptations characterized the early evolutionary history of sarcopterygians during the Devonian (419-359 Ma) and the Carboniferous (359-299 Ma), punctuated by environmental changes and biodiversity crises. Here we present geometric morphometrics analyses of early sarcopterygian morphology to explore the impact of environmental and phylogenetic constraints on their morphology. Three analyses were performed by digitizing 2D landmarks and semi-landmarks on palaeontological reconstructions of the body shape, cheek, and skull roof. Major changes in shape seem associated with geological and biological changes from the Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous (Mississippian). An increase in shape diversity occurred during the Middle Devonian, when the first forests appeared, infl

SUBMITTER: Vanhaesebroucke O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12800246 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature