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A new marine varanoid from the Cenomanian of the Middle East

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2016

A. Haber  and
M.J. Polcyn
A. Haber*
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275, USA
M.J. Polcyn
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275, USA
*
* Corresponding author. Email: annat@uchicago.edu

Abstract

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We describe a new marine varanoid, Judeasaurus tchernovi gen. et sp. nov., on the basis of a partial skull recovered from the Middle Cenomanian of the Judean Hills. The new taxon possesses a unique suite of characters exhibited in terrestrial varanoid lizards on the one hand and derived mosasauroids on the other. The characters that relate it to terrestrial varanoid lizards include broad premaxilla, anteriorly depressed maxillae underlying the nasal capsule, extensive postorbitofrontal-parietal contact and vertically oriented parietal rami. Derived mosasauroid characters include a question-mark shaped quadrate, fused frontals, intricate fronto-parietal suture and moderately retracted nares. The shape of the supratemporal and its syndesmotic articulation with the parietal distinguishes the new taxon from any other known specimen. The dentition exhibits elongate and narrow cylindrical roots lacking resorption pits, a condition reminiscent of Coniasaurus, but crowns are small, slightly recurved and conical. Taken together, the new taxon possesses a suite of characters suggesting dolichosaurid affinities.

Keywords

VaranoideaDolichosauridaemosasaursConiasaurusCretaceousMiddle East
Type
Research Article
Information
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences , Volume 84 , Special Issue 3: Proceedings of the First Mosasaur Meeting , September 2005 , pp. 247 - 255
Copyright
Copyright © Stichting Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 2005

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