Data from: Phylogenetic assessment of molecular and morphological data for eutherian mammals

The interordinal relationships of eutherian (placental) mammals were
evaluated by a phylogenetic analysis of four published data sets (three
sequence and one morphological). The nature and degree of support and
conflict for particular groups were assessed by separate bootstrap and
homogeneity tests that were followed by combined analyses of the sequence
and morphological data. Between orders, strong support (i.e., >95%
bootstrap scores) was found for a paraphyletic Artiodactyla (relative to
Cetacea) and a monophyletic Cetartiodactyla (Artiodactyla and Cetacea) and
Paenungulata (Hyracoidea, Proboscidea, and Sirenia). In turn, some
reasonable to strong evidence (>85%) was obtained for Hyracoidea
with Sirenia, Dermoptera with Scandentia, Glires (Lagomorpha with
Rodentia), and Afrotheria (Amblysomus, Macroscelidea, Paenungulata, and
Tubulidentata). Otherwise, no other interordinal clades were supported at
these reasonable to strong levels. This overall lack of resolution for
eutherian interordinal clusters agrees with other studies that further
progress will continue to be slow and difficult. Further resolution will
require the integration of more recently published data, the continued
sampling of taxa and characters, and the use of more powerful methods of
data analysis.