The comparative cranial osteology of the South African Lacertilia (reptilia: Squamata)

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:There has been a long-standing need to systematically analyze and classify SouthAfrican fossil Lacertilia. Although extensive assemblages of fossil lizard and amphibianmaterial from Langebaan on the West Coast and elsewhere exist in museum collections, thefragmentary nature of the material has largely prevented in-depth analyses and identification.In this comparative study the skulls and lower jaws of 7 lizard genera, representing thesix extant South African families, were disassembled and the bones analyzed individually. Theaim was to compile a comparative database of each bone against which current and future fossilfinds could be matched. Detailed descriptions of the isolated elements were given. The resultsshowed that despite some intra-generic variation, unique structural differences do exist inindividual bones which may be utilized in the taxonomic assessment of fragmentary fossilmaterial.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University