Cladistics: Web of relations

The interrelationships of the major groups of arthropods — jointed-limbed animals — are a source of long-standing debate. Most recent studies suggest a close link between insects and crustaceans, but the relationships of myriapods (centipedes and millipedes) and chelicerates (spiders and allies) with this 'Pancrustacea' group have been contentious. Hwang et al. present molecular evidence for a close link between myriapods and chelicerates. In contrast, Giribet et al. mix molecules and morphology in a bold 'total evidence' approach that produces a more traditional arrangement, with myriapods closer to insects and crustaceans, and chelicerates lying further away.

Mitochondrial protein phylogeny joins myriapods with chelicerates
UI WOOK HWANG, MARKUS FRIEDRICH, DIETHARD TAUTZ, CHAN JONG PARK & WON KIM
Nature 413, 154–157 (13 September 2001)
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Arthropod phylogeny based on eight molecular loci and morphology
GONZALO GIRIBET, GREGORY D. EDGECOMBE & WARD C. WHEELER
Nature 413, 157–161 (13 September 2001)
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Evolutionary biology: Sum of the arthropod parts
MARK BLAXTER
Being an arthropod, with an external skeleton and jointed limbs, is a good thing in evolutionary terms. But the question of how the main groups of arthropods are related remains a subject of intense debate.
Nature 413, 121–122 (13 September 2001)
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Creepy-crawlies keep secrets

13 September 2001 table of contents