A Molecular Examination of Archontan and Chiropteran Monophyly

Abstract

Comparative morphological and paleontological data have provided valuable information on higher-level eutherian mammal relationships, and several phylogenetic hypotheses are well supported by these comparative data (Wyss et al., 1987; Novacek et al., 1988). Nevertheless, many aspects of eutherian mammal relationships have not been resolved, and considerable conflicts between branching patterns diagnosed by different types of characters exist (Goodman et al., 1982; Miyamoto and Goodman, 1986; Novacek and Wyss, 1986; Shoshani, 1986; McKenna, 1987; Wyss et al., 1987; Novacek et al., 1988; Novacek, 1992; Stanhope et al., this volume).