"Fossil Sites: Illuminating Evolutionary Relationships and Distorted Phylogenetic Records"

A study published in PLOS ONE quantifies the impact of exceptional fossil preservation sites on our understanding of evolutionary relationships between fossil groups, finding that the diverse and well-preserved fossil lizard record in the Late Cretaceous Gobi Desert has a significant influence on our understanding of squamate evolution. The study highlights the importance of complete skeletons in tracing relationships through time and emphasizes the impact of depositional environments on the preservation of different groups in the fossil record.