Vertebrate Paleontology

  1. Mesozoic Marine Reptiles
    1. Ichthyopterygia
      1. Ichthyosaur Characteristics
        1. Convergent Evolution with Dolphins
          1. Limb Modifications
            1. Vertebral Adaptations
            2. Ichthyosaur Diversity
              1. Mixosauridae
                1. Shastasauridae
                  1. Ophthalmosauridae
                    1. Leptopterygiidae
                    2. Ecological Specializations
                      1. Deep Diving Adaptations
                        1. Feeding Strategies
                          1. Reproductive Biology
                        2. Sauropterygia
                          1. Sauropterygian Characteristics
                            1. Paddle Development
                              1. Skull Modifications
                                1. Body Elongation
                                2. Placodontia
                                  1. Shell Evolution
                                    1. Durophagous Feeding
                                      1. Cyamodontoidea
                                      2. Eosauropterygia
                                        1. Pachypleurosauria
                                          1. Nothosauroidea
                                          2. Pistosauroidea
                                            1. Plesiosauria
                                              1. Long-necked Forms
                                                1. Short-necked Forms
                                                  1. Feeding Ecology
                                                  2. Pliosauroidea
                                                    1. Macropredatory Adaptations
                                                      1. Biomechanical Studies
                                                  3. Mosasauroidea
                                                    1. Mosasaur Origins
                                                      1. Terrestrial Ancestry
                                                        1. Aquatic Adaptations
                                                        2. Mosasaur Diversity
                                                          1. Mosasaurinae
                                                            1. Plioplatecarpinae
                                                              1. Tylosaurinae
                                                                1. Halisaurinae
                                                                2. Ecological Dominance
                                                                  1. Late Cretaceous Seas
                                                                    1. Predatory Specializations
                                                                      1. Global Distribution
                                                                    2. Thalattosauria
                                                                      1. Askeptosauridae
                                                                        1. Thalattosauridae
                                                                          1. Xinpusauridae
                                                                          2. Marine Crocodylomorphs
                                                                            1. Metriorhynchidae
                                                                              1. Geosaurinae
                                                                                1. Aquatic Adaptations

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                                                                              12. Sauropsid Radiation

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                                                                              14. Lepidosauromorph Evolution