Eolacertidae: a new extinct clade of lizards from the Palaeogene; with comments on the origin of the dominant European reptile group – Lacertidae

Čerňanský, Andrej; Smith, Krister T.

doi:10.1080/08912963.2017.1327530

Cited by 19 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…Because the clade Gallotiinae is sister to Lacertinae [6, 56], we regard the presence of pterygoid dentition as plesiomorphic among Lacertinae. Teeth on the pterygoid are also present in eolacertids [9, 57].…”

Section: Discussion and Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, the maxillary processes are reduced in this taxon [11]. The narrow nasal process of the premaxilla is present in members of the Eolacertidae [9]. The broad process among lacertids can be therefore most likely regarded as derived.…”

Section: Discussion and Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We used Mesquite (Version 2.75; [35]) to optimize characters using parsimony. The Mesquite metatree is based on Marzahn et al [26], Kornilios et al [27], Pyron et al [15] and Čerňanský & Smith [9] for lacertids and outgroup relationships.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lacertids form the dominant reptile group in Europe, where this group is also suggested to have originated [6]. This is supported by the fossil record [7–9]. The Lacertidae forms a monophyletic group [10] consisting of two lineages: Lacertinae and Gallotiinae [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The first Miocene fossils of Lacerta cf. trilineata (Squamata, Lacertidae) with a comparative study of the main cranial osteological differences in green lizards and their relatives

Čerňanský

Syromyatnikova

2019

PLoS ONE

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We here describe the first fossil remains of a green lizard of the Lacerta group from the late Miocene (MN 13) of the Solnechnodolsk locality in southern European Russia. This region of Europe is crucial for our understanding of the paleobiogeography and evolution of these middle-sized lizards. Although this clade has a broad geographical distribution across the continent today, its presence in the fossil record has only rarely been reported. In contrast to that, the material described here is abundant, consists of a premaxilla, maxillae, frontals, parietals, jugals, quadrate, pterygoids, dentaries and vertebrae. The comparison of these elements to all extant green lizard species shows that these fossils are indistinguishable from Lacerta trilineata . Thus, they form the first potential evidence of the occurrence of this species in the Miocene. This may be also used as a potential calibration point for further studies. Together with other lizard fossils, Solnechnodolsk shows an interesting combination of survivors and the dawn of modern species. This locality provides important evidence for the transition of an archaic Miocene world to the modern diversity of lizards in Europe. In addition, this article represents a contribution to the knowledge of the comparative osteological anatomy of the selected cranial elements in lacertids. This study gives special emphasis to the green lizards, but new data are also presented for related taxa, e.g., Timon lepidus , Podarcis muralis or Zootoca vivipara . Although the green lizards include several cryptic species for which determination based on isolated osteological material would be expected to be difficult, our comparisons show several important morphological differences, although a high degree of variability is present.

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Section: Discussion and Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussion and Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The first Miocene fossils of Lacerta cf. trilineata (Squamata, Lacertidae) with a comparative study of the main cranial osteological differences in green lizards and their relatives

Čerňanský

Syromyatnikova

2019

PLoS ONE

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“…The same source provided time calibrations for Sophineta cracoviensis , fossil and extant Rhynchocephalia, stem squamates and crown squamate groups. Using additional sources, we gathered complementary information on the stem and crown of Gekkota 45-47 , Dibamia 47 , Scincoidea 46,47 , Lacertoidea 46-52 including Polyglyphanodontia 46,53 , Mosasauria 46 , Serpentes 46,47 , Anguimorpha 46,47 , and Iguania 46,47,54-56 . To avoid over-sampling Liolaemidae, we randomly selected species according to relative abundance of dietary categories within the group 34 and of liolaemids among squamates.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple evolutionary origins and losses of tooth complexity in squamates

Lafuma

Corfe

Clavel

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Teeth act as tools for acquiring and processing food and so hold a prominent role in 14 vertebrate evolution 1,2 . In mammals, dental-dietary adaptations rely on tooth shape and 15 complexity variations controlled by cusp number and pattern -the main features of the 16 tooth surface 3,4 . Complexity increase through cusp addition has dominated the 17 diversification of many mammal groups 3,5-9 . However, studies of Mammalia alone don't 18 allow identification of patterns of tooth complexity conserved throughout vertebrate 19 evolution. Here, we use morphometric and phylogenetic comparative methods across 20 fossil and extant squamates ("lizards" and snakes) to show they also repeatedly evolved 21 increasingly complex teeth, but with more flexibility than mammals. Since the Late 22Jurassic, six major squamate groups independently evolved multiple-cusped teeth from a 23 single-cusped common ancestor. Unlike mammals 10,11 , reversals to lower cusp numbers 24 were frequent in squamates, with varied multiple-cusped morphologies in several groups 25 resulting in heterogenous evolutionary rates. Squamate tooth complexity evolved in 26 correlation with dietary change -increased plant consumption typically followed tooth 27 complexity increases, and the major increases in speciation rate in squamate evolutionary 28 history are associated with such changes. The evolution of complex teeth played a critical 29 role in vertebrate evolution outside Mammalia, with squamates exemplifying a more 30 labile system of dental-dietary evolution. 31As organs directly interacting with the environment, teeth are central to the acquisition and 32 processing of food, determine the achievable dietary range of vertebrates 1 , and their shapes are 33 subject to intense natural selective pressures 8,12 . Simple conical to bladed teeth generally 34 identify faunivorous vertebrates, while higher dental complexity -typically a result of more 35 numerous cusps -enables the reduction of fibrous plant tissue and is crucial to the feeding 36 apparatus in many herbivores 4,8,13 . Evidence of such dental-dietary adaptations dates back to the 37 first herbivorous tetrapods in the Palaeozoic, about 300 million years ago (Ma) 13 . Plant tooth morphogenesis 23 . Epithelial signalling centres -the enamel knots -control tooth crown 56 morphogenesis 24 , including cusp number and position and ultimately tooth complexity, by 57 expressing genes of widely conserved signalling pathways 18,25 . Experimental data show most 58 changes in these pathways result in tooth complexity reduction, or complete loss of teeth 25 , yet 59 increasing tooth complexity largely dominates the evolutionary history of mammals [6][7][8][9]16 . To 60 determine whether similar patterns of tooth complexity underlie all tetrapod evolution or are 61 the specific results of mammalian dental development and history, we used morphometric and 62 phylogenetic comparative methods with squamate tooth and diet data. 63We analysed cusp number and diet data for 545 squamate species spanning all ...

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Lizards and amphisbaenians (Reptilia, Squamata) from the middle Eocene of Mazaterón (Soria, Spain)

Bolet

2023

The Anatomical Record

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The assemblage of lizards and amphisbaenians (Reptilia, Squamata) from the middle Eocene locality of Mazaterón (Spain) is described. Considering the rather limited material available for the study, the assemblage shows a moderate diversity with eight taxa corresponding to five different families. In most cases the scarcity and fragmentary nature of squamate specimens precludes a precise identification, but provides insights on identity of the groups represented. Mazaterón fills the gap between early and late Eocene Iberian localities, showing the persistence of iguanids (possibly Geiseltaliellus), lacertids (possibly Dormaalisaurus), and glyptosaur (tribes glyptosaurini and “melanosaurini”) and anguine anguids through most of the Iberian Eocene. It also records the return of amphisbaenians (Blanidae) after their temporary retrieval from Europe during most of the middle Eocene, and the presence of two scincids, one of them possibly corresponding to a new taxon. The information provided by squamates complements what is already known from mammals, crocodylians, and turtles in what is arguably one of the most important vertebrate Paleogene localities of the Iberian Peninsula.

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Eolacertidae: a new extinct clade of lizards from the Palaeogene; with comments on the origin of the dominant European reptile group – Lacertidae

Cited by 19 publications

References 50 publications

The first Miocene fossils of Lacerta cf. trilineata (Squamata, Lacertidae) with a comparative study of the main cranial osteological differences in green lizards and their relatives

The first Miocene fossils of Lacerta cf. trilineata (Squamata, Lacertidae) with a comparative study of the main cranial osteological differences in green lizards and their relatives

Multiple evolutionary origins and losses of tooth complexity in squamates

Lizards and amphisbaenians (Reptilia, Squamata) from the middle Eocene of Mazaterón (Soria, Spain)

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