Figure 3

Minimum area polygons for the ten taxonomic groupings. Only groups with more than five genera were included in this analysis. Carnivora and Creodonta have been grouped together as possibly closely-related carnivorous placentals; Primates and Plesiadapiformes are also grouped together. Non-parametric MANOVA results in a highly significant clustering by taxonomic group (p<0.001), even when removing the most extreme members of Artiodactyla. The only group to overlap with the range of the carnivorous placental grouping is Cimolesta. “Condylarths” and Acreodi are clustered together in an area distinct from that occupied by Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla, with only three “condylarths” overlapping in range with the extant ungulate groups, showing that “archaic” and extant ungulates possess clearly distinct tooth morphologies.