Character Details
large and bowed quadrate
large and bowed quadrate (bone in back of skull)
larger retroarticular process
larger retroarticular process at back of lower jaw
loss of lower temporal bar
lower temporal bar (bone in back and side of skull) lost, so that back of skull considerably more open
flexible skull
unique articulation of several bones of the skull to allowing flexibility
+-Deuterostomata
+-Echinodermata
+-Hemichordata
+-Chordata
+-Urochordata
+-Cephalochordata
+-Craniata
+-Mixinoidea
+-Vertebrata
| +-Hyperoartia
| +-Jawless Fishes
+-Gnathostomata
+-Placodermi
+-Chondrichthyes
+-Teleostomi
+-Acanthodii
+-Osteichthyes
+-Actinopterygii
+-Sarcopterygii
| +-Coelacanthimorpha
| +-Dipnoi
+-Tetrapoda
+-Amphibia
+-Amniota
+-Synapsida
| +-Primitive Synapsids
| +-Mammalia
| +-Monotremata
| +-Marsupialia
| +-Eutheria
| +-Edentata
| +-Glires
| +-Archonta
| +-Insectivora
| +-Carnivora
| +-Ungulata
+-Reptilia
| +-Testudines
+-Diapsida
+-Primitive Diapsids
+-Sauria
+-Ichthyosauria
+-Sauropterygia
+-LEPIDOSAUROMORPHA <<<<< Taxon for this page
+-Archosauromorpha
+-Crocodylomorpha
+-Pterosauria
+-Dinosauria
