DOI: 10.5061/dryad.j6q573npv
title: Data from: New data on the skull of Protorosaurus speneri and their phylogenetic significance

description: The late Permian (Lopingian) reptile Protorosaurus speneri has long been
 considered the earliest-diverging archosauromorph. Although it is known
 from extensive skeletal material from the Kupferschiefer of the Werra
 Formation of Germany, its skull has remained incompletely known. Extensive
 preparation and CT scanning of a referred skull have provided much
 additional information on the cranial structure, especially the
 basicranial and palatal regions. Phylogenetic analysis integrating the new
 anatomical data supports the hypothesis that Protorosaurus speneri is the
 earliest-diverging archosauromorph to date.
description: Morphological character-states, based on a re-examination of the
 skull of Protorosaurus speneri. Primary focus on the mandible, palate and
 dnetiotion. CT data and their segmentation formed an important part of
 this study.
description: # New data on the skull of *Protorosaurus speneri* (Reptilia:
 Archosauromorpha) and their phylogenetic significance Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.547d7wmm7](http://10.0.19.197/dryad.547d7wmm7) ##
 Description of the data and file structure These files are related to
 morphological phylogenetic analysis conducted under maximum parsimony. ###
 Files and variables #### File: Character_matrix_Protorosaurus.nex
 Description: Complete character matrix used for the analysis in Mesquite
 format. Similar to the TNT file but in a different format; includes the
 character matrix, taxon names, character definitions, and possibly trees
 or command blocks. #### File: Character_matrix_Protorosaurus.tnt
 Description: Complete character matrix used for the analysis in ant
 format. Input file for running a phylogenetic analysis in TNT. It encodes
 morphological character data used to infer evolutionary relationships.
 #### File: Supplementary_Information_Phylogeny.txt
 Description: Supplementary Information including the modified scorings
 for* Protorosaurus* and the complete character list. A detailed list of
 morphological characters (at least 234) used in the character-taxon
 matrix, mostly based on cranial and postcranial anatomy. #### File:
 Updated_phylogenetic_character_matrix.xlsx Description: Complete list of
 characters scorings in Excel format. A tabular version of the
 character-taxon matrix.- and ? represent data not determined and n/a
 represent unavailable data. ##### Variables * Discrete character data. ##
 Code/software Mesquite (no additional code required) ## Access information
 Other publicly accessible locations of the data: * N/A Data was derived
 from the following sources: * Spiekman, S. N. F., Ezcurra, M. D., Rytel,
 A., Wang, W., Mujal, E., Buchwitz, M., & Schoch, R. R. (2024).
 A redescription of *Trachelosaurus fischeri* from the Buntsandstein
 (Middle Triassic) of Bernburg, Germany: The first European
 *Dinocephalosaurus*-like marine reptile and its systematic implications
 for long-necked early archosauromorphs. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology,
 143, 10.
 [https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-024-00309-6](https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-024-00309-6)