UMR 7207, CNRS/MNHN/UPMC, Centre de Recherches sur la Paléobiodiversité et les Paléoenvironnements - CR2P
Case 48
Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle
Bâtiment de Géologie, 43 rue Buffon
75005 Paris
France
Tel (+331) 40 79 34 68
Fax (+331) 40 79 37 39
E-mail: michel.laurin@upmc.fr and laurin@mnhn.fr
University Degrees
HDR (Habilitation), UFR de Biologie, Université Paris 7
Ph.D., 1994, Department of Zoology, University of Toronto
M.Sc., 1990, Department of Zoology, University of Toronto
B.Sc., 1988, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal
Thesis supervisor (M.Sc. and Ph.D.): Dr. Robert R. Reisz.
Professional memberships
Association Paléontologique FrançaiseEuropean Society for Evolutionary Biology
International Society for Phylogenetic nomenclature (President, member of the CPN)
International Society of Vertebrate Morphologists
Société Française de Systématique
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology
Academic Awards
CNRS allowance for scientific excellence, 2010-2013.Ramsay Wright Award, 1993-1994.
Concours préuniversitaire de physique (second in the Province of Québec), 1984-1985.
Concours préuniversitaire de physique (first of my college), 1983-1984.
Concours de Mathématiques Euclide (first of my high school), 1982-1983.
Academic experience
Consultant for STACEP (statistical consulting).
Leader of the research group on phylogeny and chronology, UMR 7207 (2010-).
Leader of the research team "Squelette des vertébrés", 2007-2008.
CNRS Scientist, UMR 7179, Paris, 1998- (tenured in 2000).
Research Associate, Museum of Natural History, Humboldt University, Berlin, 1997-1998.
Associate Professor, Université Paris 7, Paris, 1996-1997.
Research Associate, Museum of Paleontology, UC Berkeley, 1994-1996.
Lecturing
Paleontology: Universities Paris 6 and 7, and Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 1999-; occasional seminars in the Collège de France and in the École Normale Supérieure.
Human anatomy and physiology: IFSI (Institut de Formation en Soins Infirmiers) de Saint-Denis, 2009-.
Comparative anatomy, Systematics, Metazoan phylogeny, Evolutionary theory, Paleontology: Université Paris 7, 1996-1998.
Major features of Vertebrate Evolution (Vertebrate Paleontology): University of Toronto, Spring 1993.
Teaching assistantships
Vertebrate Form and Function, U. of Toronto, Fall 1988-1991, 1993, summer 1991.
Vertebrate Evolution, U. of Toronto, Spring 1990, 1992.
Editorial boards
I used to review 12 to 15 papers/year, from 2002 to 2007, but as I was invited to join several editorial boards in 2007 and 2008, that number rose sharply. Since 2008, I have performed about 35 official reviews per year. In late 2008, I was the most often used referee on the Journal of Evolutionary Biology editorial board.
Chief Editor
Comptes Rendus Palevol (IF = 1.0), 2010-
Associate Editor
Specialty "Evolutionary and Population Genetics" of Frontiers in Genetics (new, open access journal), 2011-
Editorial board member
Bionomina (IF as yet unknown), 2010-.
Contributions to Zoology (IF = 1.1), 2008-.
International Journal of Zoology (new), 2008-.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology (IF = 3.7), 2008-.
The Companion Volume of the PhyloCode (ISPN), 2008-.
The Open Paleontology Journal, 2007-.
Amphibia-Reptilia (IF = 0.9), 1999-2002.
Field experience
Uruguay: December 2010. Participated in an Uruguayan field crew led by Graciela Piñeiro in Northern Uruguay, in the Buena Vista, Yaguari and Mangrullo formations, Permian to Permo-Triassic.Patagonia: November 2009. Participated in an international field crew in the Cañon de Asfalte formation, Jurassic.
Nova Scotia: Summers 1987, 1988, 1990. Collected early vertebrates in Mississippian to Triassic localities of Burntcoat, Cap Rouge, Grand Etang, Horton Bluffs, Joggins, Parrsboro, Point Edward, and Port Hood. Extracted a Triassic archosaur near Parrsboro for the Nova Scotia Museum.
Texas and Oklahoma: Summer 1989. Collected early vertebrates in several Lower Permian localities, including the Dolese Brothers quarry near Fort Sill.
New Mexico: Summers 1986 and 1988. Collected early vertebrates in localities in Lower Permian Cutler/Abo formations and Lower Triassic Chinle formation.
Research interest
My past and current research can be divided into three themes: 1, systematic paleontology; 2, comparative evolutionary biology and paleobiology; 3, phylogenetic nomenclature. My first studies in comparative biology have just been published, but this field will constitute an increasing part of my activity. My interest in phylogenetic nomenclature developed early, but I have become actively involved in this only in the last five years or so. The common theme in my three research areas is the phylogeny: my work in systematic paleontology enables me to produce phylogenies on various taxa; comparative evolutionary biology requires the phylogeny to reveal evolutionary patterns, correlations between characters, etc.; phylogenetic nomenclature enables us to turn phylogenies into classifications.

My research themes: systematic paleontology, phylogenetic nomenclature and comparative biology (often using extant taxa).
1) Systematic paleontology
Until recently, my research has focused on the anatomy and evolution of limbed vertebrates. My approach has included descriptions of key fossil taxa and the use of the new anatomical data in large-scale computer-assisted phylogenetic analyses. From these phylogenies, I extract new data on the evolution of structures (the middle ear, the vertebral centrum, etc.). The ultimate goal of this part of my research program is to document the evolution of tetrapods and establish the origin and relationships of extant tetrapods. I have tackled problems ranging from the origin of tetrapods to the origin of extant amphibians, turtles, mammals and extant diapsids. The time period on which I have worked most extensively ranges from the Upper Devonian (370 million years ago) to the Lower Triassic (220 million years ago).
My work on tetrapod evolution was undertaken to reassess the origin of amniotes (mammals and reptiles), but it has yielded unexpected results about the origin of modern amphibians. There is little consensus on the origin of anurans, urodeles, and caecilians, and the theories that have been proposed have seldom been rigorously tested. I recently proposed a well-corroborated theory on the origin of modern amphibians (Laurin, 1998a). My work suggests that all modern amphibians are part of a large group of tetrapods called lepospondyls that were thought to have become extinct over two hundred and fifty million years ago. This hypothesis suggests that the absence of a tympanum in salamanders and caecilians is not the result of degeneration (an evolutionary loss) as commonly believed. My new phylogeny offers a resolution to the long-standing problem of homology of the lissamphibian vertebral centrum. Finally, the new phylogeny that I proposed implies that the vertebrate continental (terrestrial and amphibious) fauna in the Carboniferous and the Permian was dominated by stem-tetrapods, rather than amphibians and reptiliomorphs. My new phylogeny is consistent with molecular phylogenies that show that lissamphibians are monophyletic; thus, several paleontological hypotheses that suggested a polyphyletic origin of extant amphibians among Paleozoic amphibians can be ruled out (Laurin, 2002).
In the near future, my research in this area will continue to focus on the anatomy and evolution of limbed vertebrates, from the Devonian to the present, but especially in the Upper Paleozoic. Currently, my doctoral student is studying the anatomy of nectrideans (a group of amphibians from the Carboniferous and the Permian) and is reassessing the data matrices from three recently published studies on the origin of lissamphibians. I hope that this comparison will enable us to convincingly show which theory (of at least three that are currently debated) is best supported.
Much of my current research is paleobiologically oriented and is often based on extensive studies of extant tetrapods. In contrast to previous studies, I try to use statistical methods that incorporate phylogenetic information about species. This is necessary because comparative data violates the assumption of statistical independence of the data (because closely related species tend to resemble each other more than distantly related species). Thus, in the paleobiologically-oriented projects that I now develop, I use phylogenetic eigenvector regression (PVR), independent contrasts, concentrated changes tests, and phylogenetically-weighted logistic regressions (a method that I developed in collaboration with M. Girondot).
2) Comparative evolutionary biology and paleobiology
In am currently studying the conquest of land by vertebrates using microstructural data. An extensive database of long bone cross-sections of extant tetrapods (more than 200 species) and a time-calibrated phylogeny of these taxa will form the basis of a quantitative method for inferring the lifestyle of extinct species. The phylogeny incorporating divergence times is compiled using the literature (divergence time estimates are obtained from the fossil record and molecular clock estimates). I developed (in collaboration with M. Girondot) a new mathematical model that enables quantification of the compactness profile of these sections, and a computer software (Girondot and Laurin, 2003) that extracts the parameters of the compactness profiles from images of the bone sections. Statistical analysis of these data reveals a strong ecological signal. A mathematical equation enables inference of the lifestyle of an extinct tetrapod from the compactness profile parameters of the cross-section of one of its long bones. The optimization of these inferences on a phylogeny of early tetrapods will enable me to reconstruct the history of the conquest of land by vertebrates. This project could provide valuable data on the composition of the terrestrial and freshwater communities of the Paleozoic because the habitat of many early vertebrates is uncertain. In addition, this research yields valuable data on the skeletal adaptations of various vertebrate groups to life on land and in water. For instance, a study on 46 species of extant lissamphibians (Laurin et al., 2004) shows that returns to an aquatic lifestyle in that clade is generally accompanied by an increase in femoral compactness, but that phylogenetic position and time elapsed since the change in lifestyle are also important factors. Another recent study (Germain and Laurin, 2005) shows congruent results on the radius of amniotes, but enables more precise paleobiological inference. For this project, I have already gathered data on more than 35 early tetrapods, and more than 200 species of extant tetrapods. More than the abundant new data, I will emphasize new methods, such as better ways to integrate phylogenetic information into modeling the lifestyle of extinct taxa. I am developing an inference model that will take into consideration the exact phylogenetic position of each extinct taxon for which I want to infer the lifestyle, and this method will use both topological and branch length data. I belive that such a method of modeling could be applied to many paleobiological problems; thus, I plan to publish the most innovative parts of this work in high-profile journals such as Systematic Biology, Evolution or Paleobiology, rather than in technical paleontological or morphological journals, where the histological descriptions will be published.
3) Phylogenetic nomenclature
The foundations of Linnean nomenclature were established more than two centuries ago, when most scientists were fixists and creationists. This system is not the best for modern systematics, that is intrinsically evolutionary. It could be said that biological nomenclature has virtually not benefited from the numerous developments in phylogenetic inference that took place since the works of Hennig. The development of phylogenetic nomenclature in the last fifteen years provides a means of bringing systematics in the realm of modern, evolutionary biology. I became interested early in this topic, and stopped using Linnean ranks more than ten years ago (Laurin, 1991). I have suggested or discussed phylogenetic definitions of several widely used names, such as Tetrapoda, Amphibia and Amniota (Laurin, 1998a, 2002), studied the advantages of apomorphy-based and crown-based definitions (Laurin and Anderson, 2004), and suggested an amendment to the Zoological code that would give it much of the nomenclatural stability of the PhyloCode (Laurin, in press). I took part in the last meeting of the PhyloCode advisory committee in the summer 2002 and suggested a few amendments to that code. I organized the First International Phylogenetic Nomenclature Meeting, that took place in Paris in July 2004 and I am currently the Secretary of the International Society for Phylogenetic Nomenclature (Laurin and Cantino, 2004), as well as a member of the Committee for Phylogenetic Nomenclature, that is responsible for amending the PhyloCode.
Teaching interests
I was a teaching assistant in comparative anatomy and vertebrate paleontology courses at the University of Toronto from 1988 to 1994. As a teaching assistant, I was responsible for the entire laboratory (practical) portion of these courses. My duties included giving introductory lectures, designing and marking exercises and reports, and designing, administering, and marking laboratory tests. My position of teaching assistant allowed me to develop close relationships with students, allowing me to direct them to the services that they needed.
I was hired to lecture a vertebrate paleontology course as a sabbatical replacement in 1993. Lecturing this course was enjoyable because the experience enabled me to broaden my knowledge of vertebrate paleontology by urging me to read a considerable amount of literature on the topics covered in the course. As a lecturer, I also supervised the two teaching assistants that handled the practical portion of this course.

Some of my teaching slides. © Michel Laurin
Since 1996, I have taught paleontology at the Université Paris 7 and at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. My research position does not require me to do a lot of teaching, but I continue doing it to maintain contacts with students. I have also lectured other topics in that university, like comparative anatomy, systematics and metazoan phylogeny. I find teaching to be extremely stimulating and I expect to continue this activity.
Curatorial experience
My interest in museums developed early and I took a third year biology course designed to provide curatorial experience to undergraduate students. For this course, I designed an exhibit on dinosaurs in a natural history museum and I answered questions from the public about the exhibit, dinosaurs and vertebrate paleontology.
My research and teaching have taught me much about curatorial duties. I used a collection of fossil vertebrates of the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto) to teach a course on the evolution of vertebrates, thus gaining experience on managing a teaching collection.
I also supervised groups of undergraduate students that prepared vertebrate fossils from the Lower Permian of Oklahoma and the Eocene of Wyoming. The students had to prepare and identify various vertebrate fossils for the laboratory section of a vertebrate paleontology course.
I borrowed several specimens of Paleozoic tetrapods for my research and studied the collections of several museums.
My computer skills include experience with most types of software on microcomputers and would enable me to incorporate new elements into collections databases, such as digital pictures, drawings, and diagrams.
Grants obtained
INSU (CNRS), INTERRVIE program, as partner of J. Aleon (2011)
CNRN/CONICET grant for a Franco-Argentinian research project (2009–2010)
Doctoral grant from the French Ministry of Research for my student A. Canoville, (2007-2010)
European Union Systhesis grant, 3rd call (2005-2006)
European Union Systhesis grant, 2nd call (2004-2005)
Scholarships obtained
Alexander von Humboldt Fellowhship, 1997-1998
NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1994-1996
Ramsay Wright Award, 1993-1994
University of Toronto Open Fellowship, 1992-1994
Fondation Desjardins Scholarship, 1993-1994
FCAR Doctoral Scholarship, 1990-1993
NSERC Doctoral Postgraduate Scholarship, 1990-1993
NSERC Master's Postgraduate Scholarship, 1988-1990
NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Award, 1986-1988
Abbreviations:
FCAR: Fonds Canadiens pour l'Aide à la Recherche
NSERC: National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Publications (summary)
115 printed publications:
- 85 in peer-reviewed journals.
- 6 in peer-reviewed book chapters.
- 1 in book chapters without peer review.
- 7 conference symposia chapters.
- 11 popular papers.
- 2 translated books.
- 1 book.
- 1 edited book.
- 1 edited special issue of a journal
A total of 1981 published pages (abstracts and on-line papers excluded).
43 publications on the Internet.
1 CD-ROM publication.
7 computer programs and scripts
52 summaries of talks in scientific meetings.
A total of 218 publications of various kinds.








Citations of M. Laurin according to the Researcher ID service. Note that is incorporates only correct citations of papers directly indexed by the ISI, or about 2/3 of my citations in the ISI databases. Citations for 2011 are not complete. Follow this link for an updated version (search for Laurin, Michel). Graph generated by the Researcher ID service of Thomson Reuters.
1602 citations, a h-index of 22, and a g-index of 36, according to the ISI (as of August 18, 2011), if these statistics are calculated using the cited reference search by author (a regular search does not yield citations to book chapters, meeting reports, computer programs, or erroneous citations to regular research papers).
Regular articles in refereed journals (available from the author upon request; listed in chronological order of publication)


Some cover pages that feature my papers. © Michel Laurin
- LEGRENEUR, P., LAURIN, M., MONTEIL, K. M., AND BELS, V. In press. Convergent exaptation of leap up for escape in distantly related arboreal amniotes. Adaptive Behaviour 27 pp., 5 figs., 2 tables.
- PIÑEIRO, G., RAMOS, A., GOSO, C., SCARABINO, F., and LAURIN, M. in press. Unusual environmental conditions preserve a Permian mesosaur-bearing Konservat-Lagerstätte from Uruguay. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 47 pp., 12 figures, 2 tables, 1 appendix.
- MEUNIER, F. J. and LAURIN, M. in press. A microanatomical and histological study of the fin long bones of the Devonian sarcopterygian Eusthenopteron foordi. Acta Zoologica 10 pages.
- LAURIN, M. and GERMAIN, D. 2011. Developmental characters in phylogenetic inference and their absolute timing information. Systematic Biology 60 (5): 630—344.
- LAURIN, M., CANOVILLE, A., and GERMAIN, D. 2011. Bone microanatomy and lifestyle: a descriptive approach. Comptes rendus Palevol 10 (5–6): 381–402.
- ZYLBERBERG, L. AND LAURIN, M. 2011. Analysis of fossil bone organic matrix by transmission electron microscopy. Comptes rendus Palevol 10 (5–6): 357–366.
- AMSON, E., and LAURIN, M. 2011. On the affinities of Tetraceratops insignis, an Early Permian synapsid. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 56 (2): 301–312.
- LAURIN, M., EVERETT, M.L., PARKER, W., 2011. The cecal appendix: one more immune component with a function disturbed by post-industrial culture. Anatomical Record, 294 (4): 567–579.
- ORGAN, C. L., CANOVILLE, A., REISZ, R. R., and LAURIN, M. 2011. Paleogenomic data suggest mammal-like genome size in the ancestral amniote and derived large genome size in amphibians. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 24: 372–380.
- LAURIN M. 2010. Assessment of the relative merits of a few methods to detect evolutionary trends. Systematic Biology 59 (6): 689–704.
- LAURIN, M. 2010. The subjective nature of Linnaean categories and its impact in evolutionary biology and biodiversity studies. Contributions to Zoology 79 (4): 131–146.
- REISZ, R., LAURIN, M., and MARJANOVIC D. 2010. Apsisaurus witteri from the Lower Permian of Texas: yet another small varanopid synapsid, not a diapsid. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30 (5): 1628–1631.
- ZYLBERBERG, L., MEUNIER, F. J., and LAURIN, M. 2010. A microanatomical and histological study of the postcranial dermal skeleton in the Devonian sarcopterygian Eusthenopteron foordi. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 55 (3): 459–470.
- CANOVILLE, A. and LAURIN, M. 2010. Evolution of humeral microanatomy and lifestyle in amniotes, and some comments on paleobiological inferences. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 100 (2): 384–406.
- MARZKE, M. W., POUYDEBAT, E., LAURIN, M., GORCE, P., and BELS, V. 2009. A clarification of Pouydebat et al., 2008, Evolution of grasping among anthropoids. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 22 (11): 2554–2557.
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN, M. 2009. The origin(s) of modern amphibians: a commentary. Evolutionary Biology 36 (3): 336–338.
- LAURIN, M., CANOVILLE, A., and QUILHAC, A. 2009. Use of paleontological and molecular data in supertrees for comparative studies: the example of lissamphibian femoral microanatomy. Journal of Anatomy 215 (2): 110–123.
- CANOVILLE, A. and LAURIN, M. 2009. Microanatomical diversity of the humerus and lifestyle in lissamphibians. Acta Zoologica 90 (2): 110–122.
- GERMAIN, D. and LAURIN, M. 2009. Evolution of ossification sequences in salamanders and urodele origins assessed through event-pairing and new methods. Evolution & Development 11 (2): 170–190.
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN, M. 2008b. A reevaluation of the evidence supporting an unorthodox hypothesis on the origin of extant amphibians. Contributions to Zoology 77 (3): 149–199.
- POUYDEBAT, E., LAURIN, M. GORCE, P., and BELS, V. Evolution of grasping among anthropoids. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 21 (6): 1723–1743.
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN, M. 2008a. Assessing confidence intervals for stratigraphic ranges of higher taxa: the case of Lissamphibia. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53 (3): 413–432.
- KRILOFF, A., GERMAIN, D., CANOVILLE, A. VINCENT, P., SACHE, M., and LAURIN, M. 2008. Evolution of bone micranatomy of the tetrapod tibia and its use in paleobiological inference. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 21 (3): 807-826.
- LAURIN, M. 2008. The splendid isolation of biological nomenclature. Zoologica Scripta 35 (2) : 223–233.
- PENET, L., LAURIN, M., GOUYON, P. H., and NADOT, S. 2007. Constraints and selection: insights from microsporogenesis in Asparagales. Evolution & Development 9 (5): 460-471
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN, M. 2007. Fossils, molecules, divergence times, and the origin of lissamphibians. Systematic Biology 56 (3): 369-388.
- LAURIN, M., MEUNIER, F. J., GERMAIN, D., and LEMOINE, M. 2007. A microanatomical and histological study of the paired fin skeleton of the Devonian sarcopterygian Eusthenopteron foordi. Journal of Paleontology 81 (1): 143-153.
- WARD, P., LABANDEIRA, C., LAURIN, M., and BERNER, R. 2006. Romer’s Gap: A low oxygen interval constraining the timing of the earliest phases of arthropod and vertebrate terrestrialization. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 103 (45): 16818-16822.
- LAURIN, M. 2006. Scanty evidence and changing opinions about evolving appendages. Zoologica Scripta 35 (6): 667-668.
- LAURIN, M. and SOLER-GIJON, R. 2006. The oldest known stegocephalian (Sarcopterygii: Temnospondyli) from spain. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26 (2): 284-299.
- LAURIN, M., GERMAIN, D., STEYER, J.-S., and GIRONDOT, M. 2006. Microanatomical data and the conquest of land by vertebrates. Comptes Rendus Palevol 5 (3-4): 603-618.
- LAURIN, M., DE QUEIROZ, K., and CANTINO, P. D. 2006. Sense and stability of taxon names. Zoologica Scripta 35 (1): 113-114.
- LAURIN, M., de QUEIROZ, K., CANTINO, P. D., CELLINESE, N., and OLMSTEAD, R. 2005. The PhyloCode, types, ranks, and monophyly: a response to Pickett. Cladistics 21 (6): 605-607.
- LAURIN, M. 2005. Embryo retention, character optimization, and the origin of the extra-embryonic membranes of the amniotic egg. Journal of Natural History 39 (34): 3151-3161.
- CUBO, J., PONTON, F., LAURIN, M., DE MARGERIE, E., and CASTANET, J. 2005. Phylogenetic signal in bone microstructure of sauropsids. Systematic Biology 54 (4): 562-574.
- GERMAIN, D. and LAURIN, M. 2005. Microanatomy of the radius and lifestyle in amniotes (Vertebrata, Tetrapoda). Zoologica Scripta 34 (4): 335-350.
- LAURIN, M., GIRONDOT, M., and LOTH, M.-M. 2004. The evolution of long bone microanatomy and lifestyle in lissamphibians. Paleobiology 30 (4): 589-613.
- LAURIN, M. 2004. The Evolution of Body Size, Cope's Rule and the Origin of Amniotes. Systematic Biology 53 (4): 594-622.
- REISZ, R. R. and LAURIN, M. 2004. A reevaluation of the enigmatic Permian synapsid Watongia and of its stratigraphic significance. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 41(4): 377-386.
- VALLIN, G. and LAURIN, M. 2004. Cranial morphology and affinities of Microbrachis, and a reappraisal of the phylogeny and lifestyle of the first amphibians. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 24 (1): 56-72.
- STEYER, J.-S., LAURIN, M., CASTANET, J., and RICQLES, A. de. 2004. First histological and skeletochronological data on temnospondyl growth; palaeoecological and palaeoclimatological implications. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 206: 193-201.
- LAURIN, M. and ANDERSON, J. 2004. Meaning of the name Tetrapoda in the scientific literature : an exchange. Systematic Biology 53 (1): 68-80.
- GIRONDOT, M. and LAURIN, M. 2003. Bone profiler: a tool to quantify, model and statistically compare bone section compactness profiles. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 23 (2): 458-461.
- REISZ, R. R. and LAURIN, M. 2002. The reptile Macroleter, the first vertebrate evidence for correlation of Upper Permian continental strata of North America and Russia. Reply. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 114 (9): 1176-1177.
- LAURIN, M. 2002. Tetrapod phylogeny, amphibian origins, and the definition of the name Tetrapoda. Systematic Biology 51 (2): 364-369.
- DELGADO, S., CASANE, D., BONNAUD, L., LAURIN, M., SIRE, J.-Y., and GIRONDOT, M. 2001. Molecular evidence for precambrian origin of amelogenin, the major protein of vertebrate enamel. Molecular Biology and Evolution 18 (12): 2146-2153.
- KHEMIRI, S., MEUNIER, F. J., LAURIN, M., and ZYLBERBERG, L.. 2001. Morphology and structure of the scales in the Gadiformes (Actinopterygii: Teleostei: Paracantopterygii) and a comparison to the elasmoid scales of other Teleostei. Cahiers de Biologie Marine 42: 345-362.
- REISZ, R. R. and LAURIN, M. 2001. The reptile Macroleter, the first vertebrate evidence for correlation of Upper Permian continental strata of North America and Russia. Geological Society of America Bulletin 113 (9): 1229-1233.
- LAURIN, M. and SOLER-GIJON, R. 2001. The oldest stegocephalian from the Iberian Peninsula: evidence that temnospondyls were euryhaline. Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences de Paris, Sciences de la vie/Life sciences 324: 495-501.
- OTTO, M. and LAURIN, M. 2001. Microanatomy of the dermal skeleton of Balticaspis latvica (Osteostraci, Middle Devonian). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 21 (1): 186-189.
- OTTO, M. and LAURIN, M. 2001. Taxonomic note on osteostracan tesserae from the Baltic Middle Devonian. Neues Jahrbuch fr Geologie und PalSontologie. Monatsshefte2001 (3): 142-144.
- LAURIN, M. 2000. Travaux récents sur l’évolution et la paléoécologie des stégocéphales. Bulletin de la Société Herpétologique de France 96 (4): 25-37.
- LAURIN, M., GIRONDOT, M., and RICQLÈS, A. de 2000b. Reply from M. Laurin, M. Girondot and A. de Ricqlès. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 15 (8): 328.
- LAURIN, M, REISZ, R. R., and GIRONDOT, M. 2000. Caecilian viviparity and amniote origins: a reply to Wilkinson and Nussbaum. Journal of Natural History 34 (2): 311-315.
- LAURIN, M., GIRONDOT, M., and RICQLÈS, A. de 2000a. Early tetrapod evolution, Trends in Ecology and Evolution 15 (3): 118-123.
- LAURIN, M. and REISZ, R. R. 1999. A new study of Solenodonsaurus janenschi, and a reconsideration of amniote origins and stegocephalian evolution. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 36 (8): 1239-1255.
- LAURIN, M. and GIRONDOT, M. 1999. Embryo retention in sarcopterygians, and the origin of the extra-embryonic membranes of the amniotic egg. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Zoologie, Paris, 13e Série 20 (3): 99-104.
- OTTO, M. and LAURIN, M. 1999. Osteostracan tesserae from the Baltic Middle Devonian: morphology and microanatomy. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Monatshefte 1999 (8): 464-476.
- LAURIN, M. 1998d. New data on the cranial anatomy of Lycaenops (Synapsida, Gorgonopsidae), and reflections on the possible presence of streptostyly in gorgonopsians. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 18 (4): 765-776.
- LAURIN, M., 1998c. A reevaluation of the origin of pentadactyly. Evolution. 52 (5): 1476-1482.
- LAURIN, M., 1998b. The importance of global parsimony and historical bias in understanding tetrapod evolution. Part II–vertebral centrum, costal ventilation, and paedomorphosis. Annales de Sciences Naturelles, Zoologie, 13ème Série. 19 (2): 99-114.
- LAURIN, M., 1998a. The importance of global parsimony and historical bias in understanding tetrapod evolution. Part I–systematics, middle ear evolution, and jaw suspension. Annales de Sciences Naturelles, Zoologie, 13ème Série, 19 (1): 1-42.
- GIRONDOT, M., S. DELGADO, and M. LAURIN. 1998. Evolutionary Analysis of "Hagfish Amelogenin". The Anatomical Record 252 (4): 608-611.
- LAURIN, M., 1996. A redescription of the cranial anatomy of Seymouria baylorensis, the best known seymouriamorph (Vertebrata: Seymouriamorpha). PaleoBios, 17 (1): 1-16.
- LAURIN, M., 1996. A reevaluation of Ariekanerpeton, a Lower Permian seymouriamorph (Tetrapoda: Seymouriamorpha) from Tadzhikistan. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology,16 (4): 653-665.
- LAURIN, M., 1996. A reappraisal of Utegenia, a Permo-Carboniferous seymouriamorph (Tetrapoda: Batrachosauria) from Kazakhstan. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 16 (3): 374-383.
- LAURIN, M. and REISZ, R. R., 1996. The osteology and relationships of Tetraceratops insignis, the oldest known therapsid. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 16 (1): 95-102.
- LAURIN, M., 1995. Comparative cranial anatomy of Seymouria sanjuanensisPaleoBios, 16 (4): 1-8.(Tetrapoda: Batrachosauria) from the Lower Permian of Utah and New Mexico.
- LAURIN, M. and REISZ, R. R., 1995. A reevaluation of early amniote phylogeny. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 113 (2): 165-223.
- LAURIN, M., 1994. A reevaluation of Cutleria wilmarthi, a Lower Permian synapsid from Colorado. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 14 (1): 134-138.
- LAURIN, M., 1993. The osteology and relationships of Haptodus garnettensis, a Pennsylvanian synapsid from Kansas. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 13 (2): 200- 229.
- LAURIN, M. and REISZ, R. R., 1992. A reassessment of the Pennsylvanian tetrapod Romeriscus. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 12 (4): 524-527.
- LAURIN, M., 1991. The osteology of a Lower Permian eosuchian from Texas and a review of diapsid phylogeny. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 101 (1): 59- 95.
- REISZ, R. R. and LAURIN, M., 1991. Owenetta and the origin of turtles. Nature, 349: 324-326.
- GODFREY, S. J., HOLMES, R. B., and LAURIN, M., 1991. Articulated remains of a Pennsylvanian embolomere (Amphibia: Anthracosauria) from Joggins, Nova Scotia, Canada. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 11 (2): 213-219.
- LAURIN, M. and REISZ, R. R., 1990. Tetraceratops is the oldest known therapsid. Nature, 345 (6272): 249-250.
- LAURIN, M. and REISZ, R. R., 1989. Taxonomic position and phylogenetic relationships of Colobomycter pholeter, a small reptile from the Lower Permian of Oklahoma. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 26: 544-550.
Biographies (available from the author upon request)
- LAURIN, M. 2011. A preliminary biography of Armand de Ricqlès (1938–), the great synthesizer of bone histology. Comptes rendus Palevol 10 (5–6): 293–301.
- LAURIN, M. 2011. A preliminary list of publications by A. de Ricqlès. Comptes rendus Palevol 10 (5–6): 311–321.
Meeting reports in refereed journals (available from the author upon request)
- CUBO, J. AND LAURIN, M. 2011. Perspectives on vertebrate evolution: topics and problems. Comptes rendus Palevol 10 (5–6): 285–292.
- LAURIN, M. and BRYANT, H. N. 2009. Third Meeting of the International Society for Phylogenetic Nomenclature: a Report. Zoologica Scripta 38 (3): 333–337.
- LAURIN, M. and CANTINO, P. D. 2007. Second meeting of the International Society for Phylogenetic Nomenclature: a report. Zoologica Scripta 36 (1): 109-117.
- LAURIN, M. and CANTINO, P. D. 2004. First international phylogenetic nomenclature meeting: a report. Zoologica Scripta 33 (5): 475-479.
Book reviews in refereed journals (available from the author upon request)
- LAURIN, M. 2010. Review of CARROLL, R. L. 2010. The Rise of Amphibians. Herpetological Review 41(1) : 119–123.
- LAURIN, M. 2007. Review of HALL, B. K. (ed.) 2007. Fins into Limbs: Evolution, Development and Transformation, 433 pages. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. Copeia 2007 (4): 1050–1061.
Chapters in refereed edited books (available from the author upon request)
- LAURIN, M. and REISZ, R. R. in press. Synapsida. Pp. in Cantino, P. D., de Queiroz, K., and Gauthier, J. A. (ed), Phylonyms: A Companion to the PhyloCode. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.
- LAURIN, M. 2011. Limb origin and development. Pp. 75–89 in Bels, V. and Renous, S. (ed), Vertebrates reach the land. Mémoires du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris), Vol. 201.
- LAURIN, M. 2011. Paleontological evidence. Pp. 33–73 in Bels, V. and Renous, S. (ed), Vertebrates reach the land. Mémoires du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris), Vol. 201.
- BELS, V., CASINOS, A., DAVENPORT, J., GASC, J.-P., JAMON, M., LAURIN, M., and RENOUS, S. 2011. How vertebrates moved onto land: Extended abstract. Pp. 13–16 in Bels, V., Casinos, A., Davenport, J., Gasc, J.-P., Jamon, M., Laurin, M., and Renous, S. (ed), How vertebrates moved onto land. Mémoires du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris), Vol. 201.
- RENOUS, S., CASINOS, A., DAVENPORT, J., GASC, J.-P., JAMON, M., LAURIN, M., and BELS, V. 2011. How vertebrates moved onto land: Conclusions and perspectives. Pp. 187–195 in Bels, V., Casinos, A., Davenport, J., Gasc, J.-P., Jamon, M., Laurin, M., and Renous, S. (ed), How vertebrates moved onto land. MMémoires du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris), Vol. 201.
- LAURIN, M. and REISZ, R. R., 1997. A new perspective on tetrapod phylogeny. Pp. 9-59 in Sumida, S. and Martin, K. (eds), Amniotes Origins: Completing the Transition to Land. Academic Press, London.
Chapters in edited books (available from the author upon request)
- LAURIN, M. 2000a. Seymouriamorphs. Pp. 1064-1080 in Heatwole, H. and Carroll, R. L. (eds), Amphibian Biology. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Chipping Norton.
Conference proceedings (available from the author upon request)
- LAURIN, M. 2011. Use of paleontological and phylogenetic data in comparative and paleobiological analyses: a few recent developments. Pp. 121–138 in Pontarotti, P. (ed), Evolutionary Biology – Concepts, Biodiversity, Macroevolution and Genome Evolution. Springer, Berlin.
- LAURIN, M. and SOLER-GIJON, R. 2010. Osmotic tolerance and habitat of early stegocephalians: indirect evidence from parsimony, taphonomy, paleobiogeography, physiology and morphology. In Vecoli, M. and Clément, G. (ed), The Terrestrialization Process: Modelling Complex Interactions at the Biosphere-Geosphere Interface. The Geological Society of London, London. 339: 151–179.
- Laurin M. 2010. Structure, fonction et évolution de l'oreille moyenne des vertébrés actuels et éteints: interprétations paléobiologiques et phylogénétiques. In: J. Gayon, A. de Ricqlès, and M. Mossio (ed.) Les fonctions: Des organismes aux artefacts: 189–208. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.
- LAURIN, M. 2009 La nomenclature biologique aujourd’hui: que reste-t-il de Linné ? Pp. 1–16 in Roche, C. (ed.), TOTh 2009, Annecy, France, Institut Porphyre.
- LAURIN, M. 2008. Le PhyloCode. Pp. 411–420 in Prat, D., Roguenant, A., and Raynal-Roques, A. (eds), Peut-on classer le vivant? Linné et la systématique aujourd’hui. Belin, Paris.
- LAURIN, M. 2005. The advantages of Phylogenetic nomenclature over Linnean nomenclature. Pp. 67-97 in Minelli, A., Ortalli, G. and Sanga, G. (eds), I nomi degli animali (Animal Names), Instituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, Venice, Italy.
- RICQLÈS, A. de and LAURIN, M. 1999. The origin of tetrapods. Pp. 23-33 in Miaud, C. and Guyétan, R. (eds), Current Studies in Herpetology. Société Herpétologique de France, Le Bourget du Lac, France.
Book translations


Salvia patens, Diplocaulus, Brachydectes. © 2007, 2010 Flower Picture by Helene Schmitz; reconstructions of Diplocaulus and Brachydectes by Douglas Henderson, and page designs by Belin and the University of California Presss
- LAURIN, M. 2010. How Vertebrates Left the Water. Translated by LAURIN, M. University of California Press, Berkeley, xi + 199 pp. Available commercially.
- SCHMITZ, H., UDDENBERG, N., and ÖSTENSSON, P. 2007. Linné – le rêve de l’ordre dans la nature. Translated by LAURIN, M. Belin, Paris, 255 pp. Available commercially.
Books



Seymouria sanjuanensis. © 2008 Ellipses and David S Berman Picture by David S Berman
- LAURIN, M. 2008. Systématique, Paléontologie et Biologie Évolutive Moderne: l’exemple de la sortie des eaux chez les vertébrés. Ellipses éditions, Paris. 176 pp. Order on the Internet.
Edited books


Book cover. © 2011 Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle
- Bels V., A. Casinos, J. Davenport, J.-P. Gasc, M. Jamon, M. Laurin, & S. Renous. ed. 2011. How vertebrates moved onto land. Mémoires du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris), Vol. 201, 200 pp.
Edited special issues of journals


Cover of the special issue of Comptes Rendus Palevol by Cubo and Laurin. The picture shows a cusp of a human molar in vertical section with enamel above and dentine below. Field width = 1.65 mm. © 2011 Elsevier (cover design) and Timothy Bromage (picture)
- Cubo, J., and Laurin, M., 2011. Perspectives on vertebrate évolution: topics and problems. Comptes Rendus Palevol 10 (5–6), 285–515.
Meeting reports and announcements in non-refereed journals (available from the author upon request)
- LAURIN, M. and CANTINO, P. D. 2006. Second Congrès International de la Société de Nomenclature Phylogénétique : 28 juin-2 juillet, 2006, Université de Yale, USA. Journal de l’Association Paléontologique Française 50: 18-21.
- LAURIN, M. and MARJANOVIC, D. 2006. Un congrès paléontologique gigantesque dans un pays gigantesque (IPC 2006). Journal de l’Association Paléontologique Française 50: 14-17.
- RICQLES, A. de and LAURIN, M. 2005. Les tétrapodes du Paléozoïque : actualités de la recherche. Courrier du Collège de France, 14: 19.
- LAURIN, M. and RICQLES, A. de 2004. Compte rendu sur le premier congrès international de nomenclature phylogénétique: 6-9 juillet 2004, MNHN.Paris. Bulletin de la Société française de Systématique 32: 9-10.
- LAURIN, M., PLEIJEL, F., and RICQLES, A. de 2003. Premier Congrès International de Nomenclature Phylogénétique. Bulletin de la Société Française de Systématique30: 18-19.
Scientific correspondence in non-refereed journals (available from the author upon request)
- LAURIN, M. 2005. Dites oui au PhyloCode! Bulletin de la Société Française de Systématique, 34 : 25-31.
Reviews in non-refereed journals (available from the author upon request)
- TRUEB, L. and LAURIN, M. 2003. The appearance of limbed vertebrates—the stegocephalians; Lissamphibia. Pp. 7-14 in Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, 6: Amphibians, Hutchens, M., Duellman, W. E., and Schlager, N. (eds). Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale group.
- LAURIN, M. 2002b. La conquête de l'environnement terrestre par les vertébrés. Géochronique 84: 30-32.
- LAURIN, M. 1999. Recent work on stegocephalian evolution. Bulletin of the Canadian Association of Herpetologists, 13 (1): 7-12.
- LAURIN, M. 1998. "La vie au Secondaire". La Recherche, December 1998, 82.
Research papers in non-refereed journals (available from the author upon request)
- LAURIN, M. 2001. L'utilisation de la taxonomie phylogénétique en paléontologie: avantages et inconvénients. Biosystema 19: 197-211.
On-line, non-refereed publications
In Sagascience
- LAURIN, M. 2005. La radiation évolutive des stégocéphales permo-carbonifères.
In the Tree of Life
- LAURIN, M. 2001. Solenodonsaurus. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., and GAUTHIER, J. A. 2000. Diapsida. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., and GAUTHIER, J. A. 2000. Diapsid phylogeny. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., and GAUTHIER, J. A. 2000. Autapomorphies of diapsid clades. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- STEYER, J.-S., and LAURIN, M. 2000. Temnospondyli. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- STEYER, J.-S., and LAURIN, M. 2000. Phylogeny and apomorphies of temnospondyls. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., and REISZ, R. R. 1997. Synapsida. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., and REISZ, R. R. 1997. Autapomorphies of the main clades of synapsids. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., 1996. Terrestrial Vertebrates. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., 1996. Life History in Stegocephalians. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., 1996. Breathing in Stegocephalians. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., 1996. Hearing in Stegocephalians. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., 1996. Phylogeny of Stegocephalians. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., 1996. Seymouriamorpha. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., 1996. Utegenia_shpinari. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., 1996. Ariekanerpeton_sigalovi. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., 1996. Seymouria. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., and GAUTHIER, J. A. 1996. Amniota. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M., and GAUTHIER, J. A. 1996. Phylogeny and classification of amniotes. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
- LAURIN, M. 1996. Temporal Fenestration and the Classification of Amniotes. In Maddison, D. and Maddison, W. (eds) The Tree of Life.
In the Museum of Paleontology of the University of California (UCMP)
- LAURIN, M. et HUTCHINSON, J. R. 1996. Introduction to Anapsida.
- LAURIN, M. et HUTCHINSON, J. R. 1996. Anapsida: Fossil Record.
- LAURIN, M. et HUTCHINSON, J. R. 1996. Anapsida: Life History and Ecology.
- LAURIN, M. et HUTCHINSON, J. R. 1996. Anapsida: More on Morphology.
- LAURIN, M. et HUTCHINSON, J. R. 1996. Anapsida: Systematics.
- LAURIN, M. et HUTCHINSON, J. R. 1996. Introduction to Millerettidae.
- LAURIN, M. et HUTCHINSON, J. R. 1996. Acleistorhinus.
- LAURIN, M. et HUTCHINSON, J. R. 1996. Introduction to Lanthanosuchidae.
- LAURIN, M. et HUTCHINSON, J. R. 1996. Introduction to Pareiasauria.
- LAURIN, M. et HUTCHINSON, J. R. 1996. Pareiasauria: More on Morphology.
- LAURIN, M. et HUTCHINSON, J. R. 1996. Introduction to Procolophonoidea.
- LAURIN, M. et HUTCHINSON, J. R. 1996. Procolophonoidea: More on Morphology.
- WAGGONER, B. M., SPEER, B. R., et LAURIN, M. 1996. Introduction to the Tetrapoda.
- WAGGONER, B. M., SPEER, B. R., et LAURIN, M. 1996. Systematics of the Tetrapods.
- WAGGONER, B. M., SPEER, B. R., et LAURIN, M. 1996. Morphology of the Tetrapods.
In Wikipedia (anonymous, but my contribution can be verified in the page history; the year that I have indicated is when I made may contribution to the various pages, not when these pages were created (typically sooner) or last updated)
- Anonymous, 2011. Osteostraci
- Anonymous, 2011. Tiktaalik
- Anonymous, 2011. Alfred Romer
- Anonymous, 2011. Cephalochordata.
- Anonymous, 2011. Mesosaur.
- Anonymous, 2011. Mesosaurus.
- Anonymous, 2011. Michel Laurin (this page concerns a homonym, not my own biographical page, which was created by a colleague and to which I do not witsh to contribute; it can be found in the English version of Wikipedia).
CD-ROM publications
- JANVIER, P. and LAURIN, M. Histoire de la cladistique, repères chronologiques, Encyclopaedia Universalis, version CD-Rom, 2011.
Computer programs


Interface of Bone Profiler, a bilingual (English and French) program to analyze bone sections. To the left, a cross-section of a turtle femur. To the right, a dialog box enabling users to select various modeling options. © 2008 Michel Laurin
- Gao F., J. Corcy, & M. Laurin. Regressor (software to perform linear regressions in batches, especially useful to asses results of simulations). Download
View regressorjava1.4.jar or
View regressorjava1.5.jar. - Gao F., J. Corcy, & M. Laurin. AC3: Phylogenetic Independent Contrasts for Continuous and Categorical Variables (experimental program mostly designed for testing the performance of various modifications of phylogenetic independent contrasts).
View ac3.zip. - GAO, F AND LAURIN, M. SimExport (software to convert simulated data from PDSIMUL into a better format for statistical analysis).
View simexport1.zip - MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN, M. 2007. Modified ModelTest script to use a parsimony guide tree.
View modelblockpaupb10-p - JOSSE, S., MOREAU, T., AND LAURIN, M. 2006. Stratigraphic tools for Mesquite. Download.
- FAURE E., LONY E., LOVIGNY R., MENEGOZ A., TING Y., AND LAURIN M. 2006. Strat add for Mesquite. Download.
- GIRONDOT M. AND LAURIN M. 2003. Bone Profiler. Available at http://www.ese.u-psud.fr/epc/conservation/Bone_Profiler/

Interface of the Stratigraphic Tools for Mesquite. The windows to the top and left are specific to this package; the right window is from the stock version of Mesquite. © 2007 Michel Laurin
Presentations given at scientific meetings
Invited opening conference talks with financing
- LAURIN, M. La nomenclature biologique aujourd’hui : que reste-t-il de Linné ? Annecy, France, June 4, 2009, p. 1 (abstract).
Invited opening conference talks without financing
- LAURIN, M. Welcome speech, biography of Armand de Ricqlès. Perspectives on vertebrate evolution: topics and problems, Collège de France, Paris, June 14–16, 2010.
Plenary talks with financing
- LAURIN M. Evolutionary radiation of Paleozoic limbed vertebrates. Primer Congreso Uruguayao de Zoologia, Montevideo, Uruguay, December 5–10, 2010, p. 39 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. Problems in rank-based nomenclature. Third Meeting of International Society of Phylogenetic Nomenclature, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, 20–22 July, 2008 (abstract).
Invited talks with financing
- LAURIN, M. Review of methods of comparative analyses and paleobiological inference. In “Predatory and anti-predatory behaviors : from structures to simulation”, part of the “From animals to animats” SAB (Simulation of Adaptive Behavior) 2010 Workshops. Paris, Farnce, August 24, 2010.
- LAURIN, M. Le PhyloCode. Faut-il classer le vivant? Dijon, France, January 31–February 3, 2007, pp. 8–9 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. The advantages of Phylogenetic Nomenclature over Linnean Nomenclature. International Conference “Animal Names” organized by the “Instituto Veneto di Scienze Lettere ed Arti”, Venice, 2–4 October, 2003 (abstract).
Invited talks without financing
- DUBOIS, A., LAURIN, M. Les mots et les choses : exprimer la biodiversité en contexte phylogénétique. In. « Cent cinquante ans après l’Origine des espèces : du darwinisme de Darwin à l’évolutionnisme contemporain », Collège de France, Paris, 11 June 2009, p. 22 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M., GERMAIN, D., STEYER, J.-S., VINCENT, P., and GIRONDOT, M. L’apport des données microanatomiques sur la conquête de l’environnement terrestre par les vertébrés. In « Biologie évolutive des organismes », Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 9-10 December 2003.
- LAURIN, M. 2000. Définitions phylogénétiques en paléontologie: avantages et inconvénients. Annual meeting of the "Société Française de Systématique", Collège de France, 17 October 2000, Paris (abstract).
Regular talks
- LAURIN, M. Tolérance osmotique et habitat des stégocéphales du Paléozoïque : données indirectes de la parcimonie, taphonomie, paléobiogéographie, physiologie et morphologie. Annual meeting of the Association Paléontologique Française, May 20, 2011 (abstract).
- PINEIRO, G., FERIGOLO, J., RAMOS*, A. LAURIN M. The morphology of the mesosaur pedal digit V. Primer Congreso Uruguayao de Zoologia, Montevideo, Uruguay, December 5–10, 2010, p. 117 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. Use of paleontological data in comparative and paleobiological analyses: a few recent developments. 14th evolutionary biology meeting at Marseilles, France, September 20–24, 2010 (abstract).
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN, M. Phylogénie des tétrapodes avec considération spéciale de l’origine des amphibiens modernes. Perspectives on vertebrate evolution: topics and problems, Collège de France, Paris, June 14–16, 2010.
- LAURIN, M. and CANOVILLE A. Bone microanatomy, habitat use in extant tetrapods, and the move onto land: a progress report. Perspectives on vertebrate evolution: topics and problems, Collège de France, Paris, June 14–16, 2010.
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN, M. 2009. A closer look at three published data matrices reveals support for the "lepospondyl hypothesis" on the origin of extant amphibians. 69th Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Bristol, UK, September 23–26. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 29 (3, supplement): 142A (abstract).
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN, M., A closer look at published data matrices reveals support for the “lepospondyl hypothesis” on the origin of Lissamphibia. 7th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontologists, Berlin, 20–24 July, 2009, p. 45 (abstract).
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN, M., A reevaluarion of the evidence supporting an unorthodox hypothesis on the origin of extant amphibians. Tribute to Charles Darwin and Bernissart Iguanodons : new perspectives on vertebrate evolution and Early Cretaceous ecosystems, Brussels, 9–13 February, 2009, p. 64 (abstract).
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN, M., Dating the origin of Lissamphibia by three techniques suggests a Permian, monophyletic origin. 68th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, 2008, Cleveland, Ohio, October 15–18, 2008, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 28 (3, supplement): 112A (abstract).
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN, M. The origin of Lissamphibia dated by three techniques suggests a Permian, monophyletic origin. 6th meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontologists, Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia, 30 June–5 July 2008, pp. 63–64 (abstract).
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN*, M., The origin of Lissamphibia dated by three techniques suggests a Permian, monophyletic origin. III Congreso Latinoamericano de Paleontología de Vertebrados, Neuquen, Argentina, 22–25 September, 2008, p. 150 (abstract).
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN*, M., Assessing confidence intervals for stratigraphic ranges of higher taxa: the case of Lissamphibia. XXth International Congress of Zoology, Paris, France, 26–29 August 2008, p. 29 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M., and MARJANOVIC*, D. Near-consensus definitions of the names Amphibia and Lissamphibia. Third Meeting of International Society of Phylogenetic Nomenclature, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, 20–22 July, 2008 (abstract).
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN, M., The origin of Lissamphibia dated by three techniques suggests a Permian, monophyletic origin. Faunas and palaeoenvironments of the Late Palaeozoic - Special Publication to 5th Symposium on Permo-Carboniferous Faunas, Museum of Eastern Bohemia at Hradec Králové, July, 7–11, 2008, pp. 19–21 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. Terrestrialization in early vertebrates. Terrestrialization influences on the Paleozoic Geosephere-Biosphere. Paris, France, October 8–9, 2007, p. 15 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. Morphological evolution of vertebrates in the conquest of land. 8th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Paris, France, July 16–21, 2007, p. 71 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. Recent works on the conquest of land by vertebrates. 5th Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Paleontologists. Carcassonne, France, May 15–19, 2007, p. 40 (abstract).
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN, M. Paleontological and molecular perspectives on the origin and diversification of lissamphibians. 5th Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Paleontologists. Carcassonne, France, May 15–19, 2007, p. 43 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. Développements récents du PhyloCode et de l’ISPN. First Mediterranean Herpetological Congress. Marrakech, Morocco, April 16–20, 2007, p. 39 (abstract).
- MARJANOVIC, D. and LAURIN* , M. A paleontological and molecular perspective on the origin of lissamphibians. First Mediterranean Herpetological Congress. Marrakech, Morocco, April 16–20, 2007, p. 39 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. Développements récents en nomenclature phylogénétique: PhyloCode et ISPN. Journées annuelles de la Société Française de Systématique “Nouvelles de la Systématique”, October 2, 2006 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. Representation of the ISPN and the success of the PhyloCode. Second Meeting of the International Society for Phylogenetic Nomenclature, Yale University, New Haven, USA, 28 June-2 July, 2006 (abstract available at http://www.ohiou.edu/phylocode/).
- MARJANOVIC, D.* and LAURIN, M. Fossils, molecules, divergence times, and the origin of lissamphibians. 2nh International Palaeontological Congress, Beijing, China, 17-21 June, 2006, 153 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. *, MEUNIER, F. J., GERMAIN, D., and LEMOINE, M. A microanatomical and histological study of the paired fin skeleton of the Devonian sarcopterygian Eusthenopteron and the conquest of land by vertebrates. 2nd International Palaeontological Congress, Beijing, China, 17-21 June, 2006.
- GERMAIN, D. and LAURIN, M. Microanatomy of the radius and lifestyle in amniotes. 65th Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, 19-22 October, 2005, Mesa, Arizona, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 25 (3, supplement): 63A (abstract).
- LAURIN, M., MEUNIER, F. J., GERMAIN, D., and LEMOINE, M. A microanatomical and histological study of the paired fin skeleton of the Devonian sarcopterygian Eusthenopteron and the conquest of land by vertebrates. 5th World Congress of Herpetology, Stellenbosch, 19-24 June, 2005, 67 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. and SOLER-GIJON, R.. The otic region of the Carboniferous temnospondyl Iberospondylus schultzei, the midddle ear of temnospondyls, and the evolution of hearing in early tetrapods. 5th World Congress of Herpetology, Stellenbosch, 19-24 June, 2005, 67-68 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. The Evolution of Body Size, Cope’s Rule and the Origin of Amniotes. 8th Evolutionary Biology Meeting at Marseilles, Marseille, September 22-24, 2004, 14 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. Welcome speech. First International Phylogenetic Nomenclature Meeting, Paris, July 6-9, 2004.
- LAURIN, M. A phylogenetic nomenclature of early limbed vertebrates. First International Phylogenetic Nomenclature Meeting, Paris, July 6-9, 2004 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. For a crown-clade definition of the name Tetrapoda. First International Phylogenetic Nomenclature Meeting, Paris, July 6-9, 2004.
- LAURIN, M., GERMAIN, D., STEYER, J.-S., VINCENT, P., and GIRONDOT, M. L’apport des données microanatomiques sur la conquête de l’environnement terrestre par les vertébrés. In “31ème Congrès Annuel de la Société Herpétologique de France”, Banyuls, France, 2-5 July 2003 (abstract).
- BONNAUD, L., CASANE, D., DELGADO, S., LAURIN, M., SIRE, J.-Y., and GIRONDOT, M. Molecular biology and the early evolutionary history of vertebrate skeleton proteins: the case of amelogenin. In "Journées Développement et évolution, un hommage à André Adoutte. 17 October 2002, Paris.
- LAURIN, M. 2002. The advantages of phylogenetic nomenclature in paleontology. Sixth International Congress of Systematic and Evolutionary iology, "Biodiversity in the Information Age", September 2002, Patras, Greece, 263 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. and SOLER-GIJON, R. 2001. Iberospondylus and a reappraisal of the osmotic tolerance of early amphibians. 4th World Congress of Herpetology, 3rd-9thDecember 2001, Bentota, Sri Lanka, 63-64 (abstract).
- STEYER, J. S., LAURIN, M., CASTANET, J., and RICQLÈS, A. de. 2001. Histological evidence of rapid growth in Dutuitosaurus, a stegocephalian from the Triassic of Morocco. 61th Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, 3-6 October, 2001, Bozeman, Montana, <Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 21 (3, supplement): 104A-105A (abstract).
- LAURIN, M., STEYER, J.-S., GIRONDOT, M., and RICQLÈS, A. de. 2000b. Early limb evolution: histological features and their relevance to the problem of the conquest of land by vertebrates. 60th Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 20 (3, supplement): 53A (abstract).
- LAURIN, M., STEYER, J.-S., GIRONDOT, M., and RICQLÈS, A. de. 2000a. Early limb evolution: histological and microanatomical features and their relevance to the problem of the conquest of land by vertebrates. 7th International Conference on Limb Development and Regeneration, Aussois, France, 20-24 May 2000, Developmental Dynamics, 219: 441 (abstract).
- GIRONDOT, M., DELGADO, S. BONNAUD, L., and LAURIN, M. 2000. At the origin of amelogenin. 4th Enamel Conference, Chapel Hill, NC.
- LAURIN, M., Steyer, J.-S., GIRONDOT, M., and RICQLÈS, A. de. 1999. Histological evidence for the conquest of land and returns to the aquatic environment among early stegocephalians. Secondary adaptation to life in water II, Copenhagen, 13-17 September 1999, p. 32 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. 1999. Travaux récents sur l’évolution et la paléoécologie des stégocéphales. 27ème Congrès Annuel de la Société Herpétologique de France, Poitiers, 1-4 july 1999, p. 32 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. and REISZ, R. R. 1999. A new study of Solenodonsaurus janenschi, and a reconsideration of amniote origins and stegocephalian evolution. Major events in early vertebrate evolution: palaeontology, phylogeny and development. Joint meeting of The Natural History Museum and the Systematics Association. The Natural History Museum, London, 8-9 April 1999, p. 47 (abstract).
- OTTO, M. and LAURIN, M. 1999. Structure of the dermal skeleton of Middle Devonian osteostracans from the East Baltic. Fourth Baltic stratigraphic Conference, Jurmala (near Riga), 27-30 September1999. Ichthyolith Issues Special Publication 5: 37-38, Riga. (abstract).
- GIRONDOT, M., DELGADO, S., SIRE, J.-Y., and LAURIN, M. 1999. Datation moléculaire de l'acquisition de matrices des tissus minéralisés chez les Vertébrés. Deuxièmes journées françaises de Biologie des Tissus Minéralisés. Versailles, 8-9 mars 1999, p. 85 (abstract).
- RICQLÈS, A. de and LAURIN, M. 1998. At the origin of tetrapods. 9th Ordinary General Meeting of the Societas Europaea Herpetologica. Chambéry, 25-29 August 1998, (abstract).
- LAURIN, M., 1997. A new hypothesis for the origin of tetrapods, lissamphibians and amniotes. Fifth International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Journal of Morphology, 232 (3): 284 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. and REISZ*, R. R., 1997. Reevaluation of tetrapod phylogeny. 57th Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 17 (3, supplément): 59A (abstract).
- LAURIN, M., 1996. Une nouvelle phylogénie des tétrapodes et l’évolution de l’oreille moyenne des amphibiens. Deuxième Congrès National de Paléontologie de l’Association Paléontologique Française (abstract).
- LAURIN, M., 1994. A new study of discosauriscid anatomy using digital image editing software. 54TH Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, 32A (abstract).
- REISZ, R. R. and LAURIN, M., 1994. Phylogenetic relationships of early amniotes. Fourth International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, 384 385 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. and REISZ, R. R., 1993. The origin of turtles. 53RD Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, 46A (abstract).
- REISZ, R. R. and LAURIN, M., 1992. A reassessment of chelonian origins. 35th Annual Meeting, Society for the study of amphibians and reptiles. University of Texas at El Paso (abstract).
- LAURIN, M., 1991. A review of the genus Haptodus. 51ST Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, 42A (abstract).
- LAURIN, M., 1990. Diapsid phylogeny and the advantages of computerized cladistics analysis. Joint Review Seminar with the Geological Society on "Analysing Palaeontological Data" (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. and REISZ, R. R., 1989. Tetraceratops and the origin of therapsids. 49th Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, 29 (abstract).
- LAURIN, M. and REISZ, R. R., 1989. Tetraceratops, the oldest known therapsids. First World Congress of Herpetology.
- REISZ, R. R., and LAURIN*, M., 1989. Owenetta, a primitive procolophonid from South Africa, and the origin of turtles. First World Congress of Herpetology (abstract).
- LAURIN, M., 1988. The osteology and relationships of an Early Permian diapsid from Texas. 48th Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, 19-20 (abstract).
Moderator in scientific meetings
- LAURIN, M. First quarter of the Young Doctor Prize session, Biannual meeting of the Association Paléontologique Française, Elbeuf-sur-Seine, France, 18–21 May 2011.
- LAURIN, M. Biodiversity and systematics. 14th evolutionary biology meeting at Marseilles, France, September 20–24, 2010.
- LAURIN, M. Opening session. Perspectives on vertebrate evolution: topics and problems, Collège de France, Paris, June 14–16, 2010.
- LAURIN, M. Contributed papers session. Third Meeting of International Society of Phylogenetic Nomenclature, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, 20–22 July, 2008.
- LAURIN, M. Paleontology I. 8th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Paris, France, July 16–21, 2007.
- LAURIN, M. Paleontology III. 8th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Paris, France, July 16–21, 2007.
- DE RICQLÈS, A et LAURIN, M. Discussion générale. In “Les tétrapodes du Paléozoïque: actualités de la recherche“, organized by A. de Ricqlès in the Collège de France, Paris, 24 May 2005.
- LAURIN, M. General discussion session. First International Phylogenetic Nomenclature Meeting, MNHN, Paris, 9 July 2004.
Interviews with the media
- ANONYMOUS. Confirmaron que en Cerro Largo vivió hace 8 mil años una Megafauna de Mamíferos Perezosos. El Profesional, Melo, Cerro Largo, December 4, 2010, p. 3
- ANONYMOUS. El doctor Michel Laurin disertó en el Cenpat. Jornada, 20 November 2009, p. 17.
- DELIGEORGES, S. L’arbre du vivant, Continent Sciences, France Culture, 1 September, 2008. 45-minute radio interview in a one-hour show (broadcast in all of France).
- ANONYMOUS Grenouille - salamandre. Science Frontières, July 2008, p. 5.
- HAÏT, J.-F. L'arbre du vivant mieux daté. Le journal du CNRS, November 2007, p. 8.
- ANIORT, C. Retour vers le pays des dinosaures. La dépêche Aude, Carcassonne, May 14, 2007, p. 9.
- GOZZO, J. Une découverte qui ne manque pas de sel. Le journal du CNRS, Paris, 137, Mai 2001, p. 25.
- DUROUX, S. Pourquoi avons-nous cinq doigts? Science & Vie, Paris, no. 964, janvier 1998, pp. 60–63.
- HUET, S. La vertèbre ne fait pas le cousin—Mise au jour d'une nouvelle généalogie des vertébrés terrestres. Libération, Paris, January 7, 1997, p. 26.
- PEARLMAN, D. Solving evolution puzzle at turtle's pace. San Francisco Chronicle, February 29, 1996, p. A2.
- MORELL, V. 1996. Web-crawling up the Tree of Life. Science 273: 568–570.
- ANONYMOUS. Mutant turtle mystery gets new twist. The Toronto Star, Toronto, January 27, 1991, p. B8.
- ANONYMOUS. The reptile-mammal link. Breakthrough in health and science, January/February 1991, pp. 67–68.
- SUMPLEE, C. How turtles evolved: an unorthodox new theory. The Washington Post, January 26, 1991, p. A9.
- TAYLOR, M. Old turtles come out of their shells. BBC Wildlife, March 1991, p. 158.
- VAN PELT, D. Reptilian relatives may disown the turtle. Insight, March 1991, p. 49.
- ZIMMER, C. Meet the relatives. Discover, January 1991, pp. 56–57.
- GOUBLIN, M. Cat skull link between reptiles and mammals, says U of T research team. The Newspaper, Toronto, June 6, 1990, p. 2.
- BROWNE, M. W. Link in evolution is reported found. New York Times, New York, May 17, 1990, p. A14.
- GEE, H. The serpent link with man. Times, London, May 17, 1990, p. 35.
- STRAUSS, S. Fossil a link to mammals' evolution. Globe and Mail, Toronto, May 17, 1990, p. A3.

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