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A Green River (Eocene) polychrotid (Squamata, Reptilia) and a re-examination of iguanian systematics

Jack L. Conrad, Olivier Rieppel and Lance Grande
A Green River (Eocene) polychrotid (Squamata, Reptilia) and a re-examination of iguanian systematics
Journal of Paleontology (November 2007) 81 (6): 1365-1373

Abstract

A pleurodontan iguanian from the Green River Formation (Eocene) is described in detail and named. The new taxon is known only from a single specimen preserving all areas of the body. Although many of the bone surfaces are eroded, almost all of the skeleton is present and some cartilaginous elements are preserved. The new taxon shares important characteristics with the extant anisolepines and leiosaurines, including the morphology and placement of the caudal autotomy planes, the postxiphisternal inscriptional ribs, and notched or fenestrated clavicles that are expanded proximally. This is the earliest complete iguanian known from the Americas and the earliest known iguanian that may be confidently referred to an extant "family." A phylogenetic analysis including this taxon and other fossil and extant iguanians offers some support for the monophyly of Polychrotidae sensu lato, Tropiduridae sensu lato, and non-acrodont iguanians (Pleurodonta).


ISSN: 0022-3360
EISSN: 1937-2337
Coden: JPALAZ
Serial Title: Journal of Paleontology
Serial Volume: 81
Serial Issue: 6
Title: A Green River (Eocene) polychrotid (Squamata, Reptilia) and a re-examination of iguanian systematics
Affiliation: American Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Paleontology, New York, NY, United States
Pages: 1365-1373
Published: 200711
Text Language: English
Publisher: Paleontological Society, Lawrence, KS, United States
References: 85
Accession Number: 2008-001051
Categories: Vertebrate paleontology
Document Type: Serial
Bibliographic Level: Analytic
Illustration Description: illus. incl. sketch map
N41°40'00" - N41°40'00", W110°40'00" - W110°40'00"
Secondary Affiliation: Field Museum of Natural History, USA, United States
Country of Publication: United States
Secondary Affiliation: GeoRef, Copyright 2017, American Geosciences Institute. Abstract, Copyright, The Paleontological Society. Reference includes data from GeoScienceWorld, Alexandria, VA, United States
Update Code: 200801
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