THE PHYLOGENETIC DATA MATRICES OF ABELISAURIDAE THROUGH TIME AND METHODS (WITH RECOMMENDATIONS)

Abstract

The phylogenetic history of Abelisauridae has been reconstructed using an increasing number of taxa and different data matrices,
many of which are derived from common sources. Despite this, the group still presents notable topological instability. Here, we systematically revise the 40 years of phylogenetic studies on Abelisauridae. We aimed to reconstruct a timeline of matrix iterations to address five key questions: 1) How the abelisaurid phylogenetic matrices changed over time in terms of character and taxon numbers; 2) How many authors have employed differential character weighting in their analyses; 3) What type of characters (e.g., discrete, continuous) have been used in the matrices; 4) What types of calibration methods have been used; and 5) Which were the main goals of these studies. Additionally, we provide recommendations for phylogenetic tree search strategies, time-calibration procedures, character weighting approaches, and the selection and use of data matrices. By synthesizing historical trends and current practices, our work highlights key limitations in the study of the abelisaurid relationships and suggests methodological improvements to strengthen future phylogenetic and macroevolutionary inferences in this clade.