Figure 1 in A new theoretical approach for the study of monophyly of the Brachyura (Crustacea: Decapoda) and its impact on the Anomura

Figure 1. Synapomorphy "d" supports the inclusion of the Podotremata (P) in the Brachyura, while the use of less generalized synapomorphies (a, b) in the definition will result in the exclusion of the Podotremata from the Brachyura. Synapomorphies: a, female sexual opening on thoracic sternite 6; b, presence of sella turcica; c, paired spermatheca; d, intertagmal phragma fused with thoracic interosternite 8/7 (pers. obs.). Other abbreviations: H, Heterotremata; Th, Thoracotremata. Figure 2. Assumption 1: both the Brachyura (H + Th + P) and Podotremata (P) are monophyletic. Under assumption 1 it makes no sense to search for the "lower limit" of the Brachyura. Synapomorphies and abbreviations as in Fig. 1. Figure 3. Assumption 2: Brachyura (H + Th + P) monophyletic; Podotremata (P) not monophyletic. Under assumption 2 it becomes meaningful to search for the sister taxa of the Heterotremata + Thoracotremata clade. Synapomorphies and abbreviations as in Fig. 1. Figure 4. Assumption 3: Brachyura (H + Th + P) not monophyletic; Podotremata (P) monophyletic. Under assumption 3 searching for the "lower limit" of the Brachyura among the Podotremata makes no sense. Synapomorphies and abbreviations as in Fig. 1. Figure 5. Assumption 4: both Brachyura (H + Th + P) and Podotremata (P) not monophyletic. According to corollary 1 searching for the sister taxa of the Heterotremata + Thoracotremata clade and searching for the most basal branch of the brachyuran clade becomes truly relevant. Note that one set of the Podotremata is positioned as paraphyletic complex closely related to the Heterotremata + Thoracotremata clade (H-Th). Synapomorphies and abbreviations as in Fig. 1. Figure 6. Assumption 4; corollary 2. Searching for the most basal branch of the brachyuran clade ("the lower limit") among the Podotremata is completely meaningless. Note that none of the Podotremata (P) is closely related to the Heterotremata + Thoracotremata clade; all form a paraphyletic complex more closely related to some other group of decapods. Synapomorphies and abbreviations as in Fig. 1.