Andrej Čerňanský

The Early Miocene squamates of Amöneburg (Germany): the first stages of modern squamates in Europe

Squamate faunas from the MN 1–3 interval (earliest Miocene) are poorly known in Europe and worldwide. Our research brings the first report on a complete squamate fauna from the MN 2 zone in Europe. It comprises a relatively large number of specimens from Wiesbaden-Amöneburg in western Germany. MN 2 is part of a time interval (MP 29–MN 2) covering the latest Oligocene–earliest Miocene, which has been labelled the ‘Dark Period’ as far as snakes are concerned. Unexpectedly, a high diversity of squamates was discovered at Amöneburg. This fauna fills an important gap in our knowledge of herpetofaunas from this time interval in Europe, and it represents the first true beginnings of the modern fauna. The new finds are important for the two reasons. Firstly, the beginning of the Miocene heralds the temporary return to a paratropical humid climate after the relatively cool and dry Oligocene, and the Amöneburg material provides us with the opportunity to observe changes in herpetofaunas during this crucial interval. The fauna comprises some survivors from the Oligocene, and especially new forms which may have either originated locally, in Europe, or dispersed from the East. Secondly, the Early Miocene was marked by the collision of Eurasia with Africa, an event that potentially allowed immigration of African squamates into Europe. Since taxa with African affinities such as Chamaeleonidae and Cordylidae are missing from Wiesbaden-Amöneburg, this suggests that African taxa did not reach Europe in MN 2, but were able to enter it during MN 3. One new species, Blanus thomaskelleri sp. nov., is described. http:\\zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:426A24DC-719B-4D13-86BF-E2858F1F1D49

The oldest known European Neogene girdled lizard fauna (Squamata, Cordylidae), with comments on Early Miocene immigration of African taxa

ABSTRACT This paper reports on the first record of cordylid lizards from the locality of Merkur-North. The fossil history of girdled lizards is very poorly known and this group was rare during the Lower Miocene in Europe. The fossils described herein come from grey calcareous marls at the base of the so-called “Main Brown Coal Seam”. These marls are interpreted as reworked volcanic ash and the sediments are considered as early Miocene in age and are precisely equated with the MN 3a zone. For this reason, the cordylid fauna from this locality is older than previously described Miocene material and it represents the oldest known Neogene cordylids in Europe. The material of the dentary is very similar to that of Palaeocordylus bohemicus Roček, 1984, described from the younger locality of Dolnice near Cheb. The intramandibular septum of the dentary described herein, lying ventromedially from the alveolar canal, has a free posterolateral portion. It represents the first report of this structure in cordylids. The maxilla is only fragmentarily preserved. The size difference between the maxillary and dentary elements, the number of teeth and, especially their morphology evokes the possibility of two different taxa. Unfortunately, it is impossible to decide on the basis of such limited material if both finds represent independent forms or only extreme forms of the same taxon.

Earliest world record of green lizards (Lacertilia, Lacertidae) from the Lower Miocene of Central Europe

The earliest world record of the green lizards, Lacerta viridis group, is described from the lower Miocene of Central Europe. The fossils come from greenish, calcareous marls and limnic clayey silts of the Ottnangian zone MN 4 of the Dolnice locality near Cheb in the Czech Republic. Sediments are interpreted as marginal, riparian facies. The material consists of isolated frontal bones of two different ontogenetic stages and one isolated fragment of parietal. Their morphology is identical to that of the extant members of the L. viridis group. However, the fossil material is much older than the previously described specimens of green lizards. Therefore, this finding extends our knowledge about the evolution and stratigraphic range of the group and about composition of the early Miocene herpetofauna in central Europe.

Euleptes gallica Müller (Squamata: Gekkota: Sphaerodactylidae) from the Lower Miocene of North-West Bohemia, Czech Republic

Abstract. Gekkotan lizards are widely distributed in tropical regions and extend into more northern regions in Asia and Europe. Unfortunately, gekkotans lack significant fossil record and many aspects of their evolutionary biology are still poorly understood. Our study provides the first information about occurrence of this group in the Czech Republic. The fossil material comes from the Lower Miocene sediments (MN 3) of the locality Merkur-North. All the gekkonid bones can be assigned to the family Sphaerodactylidae and represent a single taxon, Euleptes gallica. This taxon was previously known only from the French locality Montaigu (zone MN 2), and thus our study extends its stratigraphic and geographic range.

FIRST DESCRIPTION OF SKULL OF LOWER PERMIAN SEYMOURIA SANJUANENSIS (SEYMOURIAMORPHA: SEYMOURIIDAE) AT AN EARLY JUVENILE GROWTH STAGE

ABSTRACT Skulls of two specimens of the Lower Permian seymouriamorph tetrapod Seymouria, referred to Seymouria sanjuanensis Vaughn, 1966, with midline skull lengths of about 19.0 and 20.0 mm, respectively, and probably representing an early juvenile ontogenetic stage, are described from the Lower Permian Tambach Formation, lowermost formation of the Upper Rotliegend Group or Series, of the Bromacker quarry locality in the midregion of the Thuringian Forest near Gotha, central Germany. They represent the smallest known specimens of the genus and are compared with those of larger, previously described specimens of Seymouria that include from the same locality: a late juvenile and two fully adult specimens of S. sanjuanensis with skull lengths of 56.0 mm, and 87.9 and 94.6 mm, respectively, and fully adult specimens of S. sanjuanensis and Seymouria baylorensis Broili, 1904, with skull lengths of 86.0–93.0 and 99.0–124.0 mm, respectively, from the Lower Permian of North America. This partial but widely spaced ontogenetic series of the skull of S. sanjuanensis, which includes an early and late juvenile and fully mature adult stages, is the first to be documented for any Seymouriamorpha. The skulls of the two early juvenile specimens of S. sanjuanensis from the Bromacker quarry are compared with similarly sized supposed larval specimens of the very closely related seymouriamorph species Discosauriscus pulcherrimus and Discosauriscus austriacus (Makowsky 1876), from the Lower Permian of the Boskovice Furrow, Moravia, Czech Republic, in which the quadrate and articular were cartilaginous and the sensory grooves are present. Contrary to conditions in Discosauriscus, in the early juvenile specimens of S. sanjuanensis the quadrate and articular are ossified and the sensory grooves are absent. This indicates that Seymouria underwent metamorphosis at much earlier stage than Discosauriscus. In addition, the early juveniles of S. sanjuanensis can be distinguished from those of both species of Discosauriscus on the basis of several differences in the skull roof and palate. However, at this stage of growth three characters indicate that S. sanjuanensis is more similar to D. pulcherrimus than to D. austriacus: 1) a chevron-shaped postorbital; 2) rows of small denticles that radiate anteriorly from the midwidth of the posterior border of the palatal ramus of the pterygoid; and 3) presence of denticles arranged in rows or randomly scattered denticles on the anterior half of the parasphenoidal plate.

Variation in the Position of the Jugal Medial Ridge Among Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata): Its Functional and Taxonomic Significance

The course of the medial ridge in the lizard jugal shows considerable morphological variation. There are four basic configurations: (1) the medial ridge is located ventral to mid‐height on the suborbital process and anterior to mid‐length on the postorbital process; (2) the medial ridge is located ventrally on the suborbital process (as above), but posteriorly on the postorbital process; (3) the medial ridge is located dorsally on the suborbital process and anteriorly on the postorbital process; and (4) the medial ridge is centrally located along the entire length of the jugal. Ancestral character state reconstruction shows that type 1 is plesiomorphic for Squamata regardless of the broad‐scale phylogenetic topology. Type 3 is present in chamaeleonids and convergently in Anolis barbatus. Type 3 is a synapomorphy of the chamaeleonids. Type 2 is considered plesiomorphic for Anguidae, Heloderma and Xenosaurus, although it is independently modified in some extant members. These taxa form a clade in molecular phylogenies of Squamata, and the course of the medial ridge of the jugal therefore provides some measure of morphological support for this arrangement. The course of the medial ridge may be best explained by the position of the eye and by the angle of the jugal; its relations with other bony orbital structures (supraocular osteoderms, palpebral, supraorbital flanges) and the posterior extent of the maxilla are also discussed. Anat Rec, 297:2262–2272, 2014.

The Atlas‐Axis Complex in Chamaeleonids (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae), with Description of a New Anatomical Structure of the Skull

The comparative vertebral morphology of different chamaeleonid genera has been generally neglected and some aspects such as the comparative anatomy of the neck region remain poorly known. The atlas and axis of all chamaeleonid genera (Brookesia, Rieppeleon, Archaius, Rhampholeon, Nadzikambia, Bradypodion, Chamaeleo, Calumma, Furcifer, Kinyongia, and Trioceros) are studied here. Considerable morphological differences are revealed. Additionally, some taxa exhibit sexual dimorphism in the atlas and axis. An extremely long, divided posterodorsal process is present in males of the Trioceros johnstoni + Trioceros jacksonii clade. The solid and well‐developed morphology of the posterodorsal process in males of this taxon could reflect its competitive behavior—males fight with their horns and attempt to dislodge one another from branches during encounters. An additional area of insertion for the cervical musculature may indicate an incremental cervical musculature mass and cross sectional area that can add extra support and stability to the head and assist during combat involving lateral pushing. This character is not present in females. Heterochronic processes have played a role in the evolution of chamaeleonids, as evidenced in many characters of the atlas–axis complex. A new hypothesis of an anterior shifting of synapophyses of the axis is erected and a new derived anatomical structure of the parietal of Chamaeleo calyptratus is described (the processus parietalis inferior). The presence of the processus parietalis inferior is associated with the evolution of the dorsally elevated parietal crest. Anat Rec, 297:369–396, 2014.

First record of fossil anguines (Squamata; Anguidae) from the Oligocene and Miocene of Turkey

Fossil anguine lizard specimens from several Turkish localities are described in this paper. The material comes from ten different localities, spanning a large geographic area consisting of both parts of the European Turkey and Anatolia, and ranging in age from the Oligocene to the Late Miocene. In certain cases, the generic determination was possible and, accordingly, members of Ophisaurus and Anguis were identified and described in detail. The specimens of Anguis, found in different, Middle and Late Miocene localities from Anatolia, represent two of only a few fossil occurrences of this taxon. Moreover, the material reported herein represents the oldest occurrences of anguine lizards, not only from Turkey, but from southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean basin as a whole. These rare records provide important information about the dispersal routes of anguines from Europe to Asia and significantly enhance our understanding of their biogeography.

New finds of the Neogene lizard and snake fauna (Squamata: Lacertilia; Serpentes) from the Slovak Republic

This paper deals with the squamate fauna from three Neogene localities in Slovakia. Neogene lizards and snakes have rarely been reported from this region and many aspects of their evolution and palaeodiversity are still poorly understood. Squamate remains from the Upper Miocene (MN 9) locality of Borsky Sväty Jur belong to at least five different taxa: Lacerta sp., Pseudopus sp., Colubroidea indet. (? Elapidae), Natricinae indet. and Colubridae indet. The ophidian assemblage from Ivanovce (Lower Pliocene; MN 15b) is dominated by colubrids, mainly Zamenis longissimus. The remainder is comprised of the species Natrix natrix. Squamate material from this locality also includes Lacerta cf. agilis, Pseudopus sp. and Ophisaurus sp., while that from Hajnáčka (Upper Pliocene; MN 16a) is extremely poor, comprising just one taxon - Natrix natrix. The Ivanovce material represents the oldest proof of the former existence of the species Zamenis longissimus and Natrix natrix in the Slovak Republic. The composition of this snake fauna indicates faunistic and palaeoecological changes at the end of the Miocene, although this was not as rapid as at similar localities in Europe. The squamate fauna of Slovakia has changed very little since the beginning of the Pliocene, and the majority of taxa are represented by species that currently occur in this region.

A complete mandible of a new amphisbaenian reptile (Squamata, Amphisbaenia) from the late middle eocene (Bartonian, Mp 16) of France

ABSTRACT— A new genus of amphisbaenian reptile, Cuvieribaena carlgansi, is decribed from the late middle Eocene of France. This material from the locality of Le Bretou (Phosphorites du Quercy) is an almost completely preserved mandible. The dentary bears six teeth, with the anterior-most one the largest. The anterior teeth are blunt and enlarged (‘amblyodont’), and their size and amblyodonty decrease posteriorly. The presence of well-developed amblyodont teeth indicates a durophagous diet. Durophagy has already been recognized in some amphisbaenids, and their high skull, short jaws, and robust tooth morphology predispose them to this durophagous lifestyle. Several other amphisbaenid specimens have also been recovered from Le Bretou, mainly trunk vertebrae and two incomplete dentaries. This material and the complete mandible show unambiguous morphological features tying them to Blanidae. Cuvieribaena is the earliest secure record of blanid lizards in the fossil record, confirmed by phylogenetic analysis.