Large Reptile Tree Phylogenetic Dataset with 2340 Taxa

2340 taxa comprise the nearly completely resolved cladogram at the core of the ReptileEvolution.com project. This dataset, created by David Peters, addresses taxon exclusion issues in paleontology by including a wide range of reptiles, pterosaurs, turtles, and other tetrapods. The project is actively updated, with a last recorded platform update in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Testing phylogenetic hypotheses for pterosaur, turtle, and snake ancestors using the character matrix and taxon list.
• Analyzing the impact of taxon inclusion on node stability by comparing results from the full 2340-taxon matrix to reduced subsets.
• Studying patterns of massive convergence and gender differences in synapsid skulls and dentition within the provided archosaur dataset.
• Identifying 'wild card' taxa that destabilize clades due to incomplete data, as indicated by red-marked entries in the PDF files.

Strengths

• Includes 2340 taxa, a large sample designed to minimize taxon exclusion problems in phylogenetics.
• Cladogram is described as nearly completely resolved, indicating a high degree of internal consistency.
• Data is actively curated, with a noted two-year effort to settle the synapsid mammal matrix.

Limitations

• Sample data and column definitions are unavailable, hindering reproducible analysis.
• The synapsid file is noted as not fully resolved, indicating ongoing uncertainty in that clade.
• At 3.5 MB, the dataset is small, likely containing primarily matrix data without extensive morphological measurements.

Provenance

Source

ReptileEvolution.com project by independent researcher David Peters.

Collection Method

Compilation and phylogenetic analysis of morphological character data from published literature.

Time Range

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Freshness

Actively updated as new taxa are added; last platform update was April 2026.

Geography

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