A Varanid Lizard (Squamata: Varanidae) from the Early Eocene of Kirghizia

Alexander O. Averianov, Igor G. Danilov

Abstract


Three vertebrae of a large varanid lizard from the early Eocene Andarak 2 locality in Kirghizia are described. The sacral and proximal postsacral vertebrae are each characterized by a short dorso-ventrally deep centrum and a neural arch lacking the neural spine. The material is assigned to ?Saniwa sp., probably representing a new taxon of Varanidae.

Keywords


Saniwa; Varanidae; early Eocene; Kirghizia

Full Text:

PDF

References


Alifanov V. R. (1993), «Some peculiaties [sic] of the Cretaceous and Palaeogene lizard faunas of the Mongolian People’s Republic», Kaupia, 3, 9 – 13.

Alifanov V. R. (1995), Fossil Teioidea of Asia and Early Stages of Evolution of Lizards, Moscow, pp. 1 – 26 [in Russian].

Averianov A. O. (1994), «Early Eocene mimotonids of Kirghizia and the problem of Mixodontia», Acta Palaeontol. Polonica, 4, 393 – 411.

Borsuk-Bialynicka M. (1991a), «Cretaceous lizard occurrences in Mongolia», Cretaceous Res., 12, 607 – 608.

Borsuk-Bialynicka M. (1991b), «Questions and controversies about saurian phylogeny, Mongolian perspective», in: Z. Kielan-Jaworowska, N. Heintz, and H. A. Nakrem (eds.), Ext. Abstrs. of th Fifth Symp. of Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biota. Contributions from the Paleontological Museum, University of Oslo, No. 364, pp. 9 – 10.

Chkhikvadze V. M. (1984), «New species of tortoise from the Middle Eocene of Fergana», Paleontol. Sb., 21, 74 – 78 [in Russian].

Chkhikvadze V. M. (1985), «Preliminary results of study of Tertiary amphibians and squamate reptiles of Zayssan Depression», Vopr. Gerpetol., 6, 234 – 235 [in Russian].

Clos L. M. (1995), «A new species of Varanus (Reptilia: Sauria) from the Miocene of Kenya», J. Vert. Paleontol., 15, 254 – 267.

Estes R. (1983), Sauria Terrestria. Amphisbaenia. Handbuch der Palaoherpetologie, Stuttgart – New York.

Gao Keqin and Hou Lianhai (1996), «Systematics and taxonomic diversity of squamates from the Upper Cretaceous Djadochta Formation, Bayan Mandahu, Gobi Desert, People’s Republic of China», Can. J. Earth Sci., 33, 578 – 598.

Gilmore C. W. (1922), «A new description of Saniwa ensidens Leidy, an extinct varanid lizard from Wyoming», Proc. US Nat. Mus., 60, 1 – 27.

Gilmore C. W. (1928), «Fossil lizards of North America», Nat. Acad. Sci. Memoir, 22, 1 – 197.

Hoffstetter R. (1969), «Presence de Varanidae (Reptilia, Sauria) dans le Miocene de Catalogne. Considerations sur l’histoire de la famille», Bull. Mus. Nat. d’Hist. Natur. Ser. 2, 40, 1051 – 1064.

Lungu A. N., Zerova G. A., and Chkhikvadze V. M. (1983), «Primary evidence on the Miocene Varanus of the North Black Sea littoral [sic]», Soobshch. Akad. Nauk Gruz. SSR, 110, 417 – 420 [in Russian].

Norrell M. A., McKenna M. C., and Novacek M. J. (1992), «Estesia mongoliensis, a new fossil varanoid from the Late Cretaceous Barun Goyot Formation of Mongolia», Am. Mus. Novitates, 3045, 1 – 24.

Reshetov V. Y., Shevyreva N. S., Trofimov B. A., and Chkhikvadze V. M. (1978), «On the vertebrates of the Andarak locality (Middle Eocene)», Byull. Mosk. Obshch. Ispyt. Prirody. Otd. Geol., 53(3), 151 – 152 [in Russian].

Romer A. S. (1956), The Osteology of the Reptiles, Chicago.

Stritzke R. (1983), «Saniwa feisti n. sp., ein Varanidae (Lacertilia, Reptilia) aus dem Mittel-Eozän von Messel bei Darmstadt», Senckenberg. Lethaia, 64, 497 – 508.

Zerova G. A. and Chkhikvadze V. M. (1984), «Review of Cenozoic lizards and snakes of the USSR», Izv. Akad. Nauk Gruz. SSR. Ser. Biol., 10, 319 – 126 [in Russian].

Zerova G. A. and Chkhikvadze V. M. (1986), «Neogene varanids of the USSR», in: Z. Roček (ed.), Studies in Herpetology, Prague, pp. 689 – 694.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-1997-4-2-143-147

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.



You can subscribe to the print or electronic version of the journal on the site of EastView Company. If you have any questions, please write to the email sales@ivis.ru