Arthropod phylogeny

Arthropod phylogeny is the inferred evolutionary history and relationships among arthropod lineages, reconstructed from anatomical, developmental, fossil, and genetic evidence.

Arthropoda: Arthropoda is the animal phylum of invertebrates with segmented bodies, jointed appendages, and an external skeleton. The phylum is the full scope whose internal relationships this phylogeny reconstructs.
Molecular phylogenetics: Molecular phylogenetics infers evolutionary relationships by comparing DNA, RNA, or protein sequences. Sequence comparisons have reshaped hypotheses about relationships among major arthropod groups.
Cambrian explosion: The Cambrian explosion was a rapid diversification of animal forms roughly 541 to 520 million years ago. Many early arthropod fossils come from this interval and bear on the origins of major lineages.
Mandibulata hypothesis: The Mandibulata hypothesis groups myriapods with pancrustaceans as sister lineages. It is a leading arrangement for the relationship among the three major living arthropod branches.
Pancrustacea: Pancrustacea is the clade comprising crustaceans and hexapods, including insects. Molecular evidence places insects within this broader crustacean-related lineage.
Phylogenomics: Phylogenomics uses genome-scale data to infer evolutionary relationships among organisms. Large gene datasets test arthropod relationships beyond the limits of a few molecular markers.
Burgess Shale: The Burgess Shale is a Canadian fossil deposit preserving diverse marine animals from about 508 million years ago. Its exceptional preservation reveals anatomical combinations relevant to early arthropod relationships.
Myriochelata: Myriochelata is a proposed clade joining myriapods and chelicerates. It is the principal alternative to Mandibulata for the placement of myriapods.
Myriapoda: Myriapoda is the arthropod subphylum comprising centipedes, millipedes, and their close relatives. Its position relative to chelicerates and pancrustaceans is central to deep arthropod branching patterns.
Morphological phylogenetics: Morphological phylogenetics infers evolutionary relationships from anatomical or developmental characters. Anatomical traits remain essential for comparing living groups with fossil arthropods.

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