A phylogenetic analysis of Myriapoda (Arthropoda) using two nuclear protein-encoding genes

Nucleotide and inferred amino acid sequences from two nuclear protein-encod ing genes, elongation factor-lu and RNA polymerase II, were obtained from 3 4 myriapods and 14 other arthropods to determine phylogenetic relationships among and within the myriapod classes. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods recovered all three represented m yriapod classes (Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Symphyla) and all multiply sampled c hilopod and diplopod orders, often with high node support. In contrast, rel ationships between classes and between orders were recovered less consisten tly and node support was typically lower. The temporal structure of phyloge netic diversification in Myriapoda may explain this apparent pattern of the phylogenetic recovery. (C) 2001 The Linnean Society of London.