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

• DOI: 10.1007/s12542-013-0164-6
• Publication Date: 2013-02-12T04:25:01Z
• Authors: Alexandra Houssaye; Nathalie Bardet; Iván Narváez; Francisco Ortega
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Pythonomorpha; Vertebrae; Non-marine; Squamata; [SDU.STU.PG] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Paleontology; [SDU.STU.PG]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Paleontology; New genus and species; 01 natural sciences

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.