Squamate finding in “Lo Hueco” (Late Campanian-Early Maastrichtian, Cuenca Province, Spain): the second non-marine pythonomorph lizard

Alexandra Houssaye (1) , Nathalie Bardet (1) , Iván Narváez , Francisco Ortega (2)

1 Paléobiodiversité et paléoenvironnements
2 National Distance Education University

Two squamate vertebrae were discovered in the site of ''Lo Hueco'' (Cuenca, Spain; Late Campanian-Early Maastrichtian), which has yielded a rich and diversified fossil fauna. Their anatomical and microanatomical features are described. They reveal that these vertebrae probably belong to a new genus of Pythonomorpha. This taxon corresponds to the second non-marine pythonomorph lizard hitherto described. Anatomical, microanatomical and sedimentological data suggest a terrestrial or amphibious mode of life. This discovery raises questions about the evolutionary history of pythonomorph lizards in non-marine deposits.

Mots clés: Pythonomorpha; Squamata; Vertebrae; New genus and species; Non-marine

Domaines: Paléontologie

Alexandra Houssaye, Nathalie Bardet, Iván Narváez, Francisco Ortega. Squamate finding in “Lo Hueco” (Late Campanian-Early Maastrichtian, Cuenca Province, Spain): the second non-marine pythonomorph lizard. Paläontologische Zeitschrift, 2013, 87 (3), pp.415-422. ⟨10.1007/s12542-013-0164-6⟩. ⟨hal-02115062⟩