New Scleromochlus paper continues an unfortunate tradition of excluding the real relatives
I can’t show you the author’s reconstruction.
Because the authors did not provide one. Here’s a substitute from ReptileEvolution.com (Fig 1).
The authors did not include a strong selection
of basal bipedal crocodylomorphs (Fig 2) and a slew of other necessary taxa. As a result they nested Scleromochlus (Fig 1) with the poorly preserved clade, Lagerpetidae. Too few taxa were included to split Lepidosauromorpha from Archosauromorpha, so pterosaurs also nested with lagerpetids in this unfortunate paper, undercut by taxon exclusion.
The Scleromochus pes
Foffta et al were so sure they had a lagerpetid in Scleromochlus that they reconstructed their pes illustration freehand to the Lagerpeton Bauplan (digit 4 the longest). After testing, here’s an alternative using DGS methods (Fig 3) where several specimens are layered to figure out the pedal formula without hopeful freehand. Note the width of the four metatarsals. Mt2 and Mt3 were wider than Mt1 and Mt4 in the Scleromochlus specimen. The digits reflect that.
Try not to use freehand sketches, where all your wishes do come true. Stick with reality.
References
Foffa D et al (6 co-authors) 2023. The osteology of the Late Triassic reptile Scleromochlus taylori from µCT data. The anatomical Record – Special Issue Article Online here.
Prior studies
Bennett SC 1996. The phylogenetic position of the Pterosauria within the Archosauromorpha. Zoolological Journal of the Linnean Society 118: 261–308.
Benton MJ 1999. Scleromochlus taylori and the origin of dinosaurs and pterosaurs. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society London, Series B 354 1423-1446. pdf
Hone DWE and Benton MJ 2007. An evaluation of the phylogenetic relationships of the pterosaurs to the archosauromorph reptiles. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 5:465–469.
Hone DWE and Benton MJ 2008. Contrasting supertree and total evidence methods: the origin of the pterosaurs. Zitteliana B28:35–60.
Padian K. 1984. The Origin of Pterosaurs. Proceedings, Third Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems, Tubingen 1984. Online pdf
Peters D 2002. A New Model for the Evolution of the Pterosaur Wing – with a twist. Hist Bio 15: 277–301.
Senter P 2003. Taxon Sampling Artifacts and the Phylogenetic Position of Aves. PhD dissertation. Northern Illinois University, 1-279.
Sereno PC 1991. Basal archosaurs: phylogenetic relationships and functional implications. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 11 (Supplement) Memoire 2: 1–53.
Woodward AS 1907. On a new dinosaurian reptile (Scleromochlus taylori, gen. et sp. nov.) from the Trias of Lossiemouth, Elgin. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society 1907 63:140-144.
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2023/10/20/new-scleromochlus-paper-continues-an-unfortunate-tradition-of-excluding-the-real-relatives/
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