The taxonomy, morphology, and evolution of total group Lissamphibia

In my dissertation, I explore the taxonomy, morphology, and evolution of total group Lissamphibia through the temnospondyls. First, I describe the presence of a new species of brachyopoid temnospondyl, which offers ecological and paleogeographic insights from overlooked collections of stem-lissamphibians. Then, I describe a new species of temnospondyl, Ninumbeehan dookoodukah, belonging to an enigmatic and diminutive clade, establishing strong evidence of burrowing in stem-lissamphibians and expanding our knowledge of their ecology in Permo-Triassic mega-monsoon cycles. In the last description, I report on Kermitops gratus, a new species of amphibamiform temnospondyl, identifying evidence of ecological partitioning in skull shape among terrestrial amphibamiforms. Finally, I produce a concatenated phylogeny to test for directionality of body size evolution in temnospondyls, shedding light on the interplay of body size and ecology of the lissamphibian lineage. Altogether, these studies significantly contribute to our understanding of temnospondyl morphology and paleoecology, promoting a more informed foundation in the study and discourse of the macroevolutionary and paleoecological context of lissamphibian origins.

Author

• So, Calvin

Language

• English

Date created

• 2025

Type of Work

• Dissertation

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Biological Sciences

Degree

• Ph.D.

Advisor

• Clark, James M

Committee Member(s)

• Mann, Arjan
• Pyron, R Alexander
• Forster, Catherine A
• Kawano, Sandy M

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/wp988k85h