Anguimorpha

Georgalis, Georgios L., Čerňanský, Andrej & Klembara, Jozef, 2021, Osteological atlas of new lizards from the Phosphorites du Quercy (France), based on historical, forgotten, fossil material, Geodiversitas 43 (9), pp. 219-293 : 270-271

Anguimorpha indet.

( Figs 61 ; 62 )

REFERRED SPECIMENS. — Five presacral vertebrae (NHMW 2019/0046/0003- NHMW 2019/0046/0007); a partial pectoral girdle (NHMW 2019/0095/0001).

DESCRIPTION AND REMARKS

Presacral vertebrae ( Fig. 61 )

These vertebrae are relatively large ( Fig. 61 ), with centrum lengths ranging between 6.9 and 9.3 mm (see Appendix 1).

The vertebrae demonstrate a mix of several features present in the above described specimens of Placosaurus , Anguinae indet., and Palaeovaranus . They have high neural spines, depressed cotyle and condyle, while the ventral surface of their centra is crossed by a wide surface or groove that is unlike the conditions seen above for the other taxa ( Fig. 61 ). Considering the high intracolumnar variation observed in the vertebrae of extant lizards (e.g., Pseudopus ), we are reluctant in assigning these specimens in a more precise taxonomic rank and we cannot even exclude that they (or part of them) pertain to some of the above described taxa.

Pectoral girdle NHMW 2019/0095/0001 ( Fig. 62 )

This specimen is incomplete, though preserving in relatively good state the right scapulocoracoid. The glenoid fossa is visible, well demarking the point of attachment with the humerus. Anteriorly to the glenoid fossa, lies the coracoid foramen. Dorsally to the foramen, the scapulocoracoid is of rectangular shape and is dorsoventrally elongated. The ventral portion of the element is anteroposteriorly elongated.

It is readily obvious that this specimen apparently pertains to a rather large-sized lizard. Considering our currently inadequate state of knowledge of the appendicular skeleton of Paleogene European lizards, it is impossible to associate it with any of the above described glyptosaurines, palaeovaranids, and varanids, all of which could attain a considerably large size.

Figures

FIG. 61. — Anguimorpha indet. A-E, photographs of presacral vertebra NHMW 2019/0046/0005 in anterior (A), posterior (B), dorsal (C), ventral (D), and left lateral (E) views; F-J, photographs of presacral vertebra 2019/0046/0004 in anterior (F), posterior (G), dorsal (H), ventral (I), and right lateral (J) views. Scale bar: 2 mm.

FIG. 62. — Anguimorpha indet. Photographs of pectoral girdle NHMW 2019/0095/0001 in dorsal (A), ventral (B), and posterolateral (C) views. Scale bar: 2 mm.