Abstract
Abstract The Late Pennsylvanian was a critical juncture in tetrapod evolution when many terrestrially adapted taxa first appeared. The Middle Pennsylvanian (Moscovian) tetrapod record reflects a taphonomic megabias that favoured preservation, discovery and collection of aquatic tetrapods that lived in wetland palaeoenvironments (‘coal swamps’). The Kasimovian tetrapod record is limited to seven localities, all but one in the USA, and two of which are singleton records, so it is less abundant, diverse or widespread than earlier Moscovian and later Gzhelian tetrapod records. This ‘Kasimovian bottleneck’ hinders interpretation of tetrapod evolutionary events across the Middle–Late Pennsylvanian boundary. Significant changes did take place across that boundary, but they were spread out over Moscovian through Gzhelian time. Many of the perceived changes in tetrapods across the Middle–Late Pennsylvanian boundary are largely artefacts of facies changes and the Moscovian tetrapod taphonomic megabias and of the limited fossil record of Kasimovian tetrapods. Therefore, there is no simple link between Late Pennsylvanian tetrapod evolutionary events and changes in climate and vegetation.
Accepted Version
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
