A comparative atlas of the skull osteology of European lizards (Reptilia: Squamata)
Villa, Andrea (Università di Torino. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra)
Delfino, Massimo (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)

Date:	2019
Abstract:	The fossil record provides evidence of a long evolutionary history of European lizards. Since fossil lizards are regularly represented by bone remains, the knowledge of the origins of extant taxa and their distribution in time and space is hindered by the fact that their comparative osteology is not yet completely and adequately known. In spite of a rising interest in this topic since the end of the 20th century, a gap in our knowledge is still evident. We here report the first broad-scale comparative osteological analysis of the skulls of extant European lizards, highlighting significant differences that can be used in identification. This comparative study, including as many European species as possible, leads to the creation of a detailed diagnostic key for each single bone. Also, our data significantly improve the recognizability of extant European non-snake squamates, with 54% of the current diversity to be recognized based on the new results contra the previously estimated 31%. This recognizability is expected to further increase in the future, with new studies focusing on species that are either missing or poorly represented here, or applying promising advanced methodologies.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación CGL2016-76431-P
Note:	Altres ajuts: CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Comparative anatomy ; Diagnostic key ; Identification ; Non-snake squamates ; Skull
Published in:	Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Vol. 187, Issue 3 (November 2019) , p. 829-928, ISSN 1096-3642

DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz035

Postprint 200 p, 5.2 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles