Invertebrate Problematica: kinds, causes, and solutions
Invertebrate Problematica: kinds, causes, and solutions
Problematica are taxa that defy robust phylogenetic placement. Traditionally the term was restricted to fossil forms, but it is clear that extant taxa may be just as difficult to place, whether using morphological or molecular (nucleotide, gene, or genomic) markers for phylogeny reconstruction. This chapter discusses the kinds and causes of Problematica within the Metazoa, but particularly focussing on the invertyebrate taxa, as well as suggesting criteria for their recognition and possible solutions. The inclusive set of Problematica changes depending upon the nature and quality of (homologous) data available, the methods of phylogeny reconstruction and the sister taxa inferred by their placement or displacement. Rather than excluding Problematica from phylogeny reconstruction, as has often been preferred, this chapter concludes that the study of Problematica is crucial both for the resolution of metazoan phylogeny, and the proper inference of body plan evolution. This chapter provides an annotated list of key extant problematic taxa.
Keywords: Problematica, Metazoa, Bilateria, phylogenomics, animal evolution, character loss
Oxford Scholarship Online requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books within the service. Public users can however freely search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter.
Please, subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian.
To troubleshoot, please check our FAQs , and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us .
