2011/05/11 by Mark Wilkinson, Diego San Mauro, Emma Sherratt +1 · 6 citations
Environmental Science · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Amphibian and Reptile Biology #Plant and animal studies #Fern and Epiphyte Biology
paper · pdf · doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2874.1.3
openalex publication_date 2011/05/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
We propose a new family-level classification of caecilians that is based on current understanding of phylogenetic relationships and diversity. The 34 currently recognised genera of caecilians are diagnosed and partitioned into nine family-level taxa. Each family is an hypothesised monophylum, that, subject to limitations of taxon sampling, is well-supported by phylogenetic analyses and is of ancient (Mesozoic) origin. Each family is diagnosed and also defined phylogenetically. The proposed classification provides an alternative to an exclusive reliance upon synonymy in solving the longstanding problem of paraphyly of the Caeciliidae.