Oldest known Varanus (Squamata: Varanidae) from the Upper Eocene and Lower Oligocene of Egypt: Support for an African origin of the genus

Palaeontology

Volumn 53, Issue 5, 2010, Pages 1099-1110

  Holmes, Robert B ^a   Murray, Alison M ^a   Attia, Yousry S ^b   Simons, Elwyn L ^c   Chatrath, Prithijit ^c  

^a UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA   (Canada)

^b Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority   (Egypt)

^c DUKE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

African origins; Eocene Oligocene; Varanoidea; Varanus; Varanus palaeobiogeography

Indexed keywords

DISPERSAL; EOCENE-OLIGOCENE BOUNDARY; FOSSIL RECORD; IDENTIFICATION KEY; LIZARD; PALEOECOLOGY; PALEOENVIRONMENT; TAXONOMY;

AFRICA; EGYPT; FAIYUM [EGYPT];

PRIMATES; SQUAMATA; VARANIDAE; VARANOIDEA; VARANUS;

EID: 77956827743     PISSN: 00310239     EISSN: 14754983     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2010.00994.x     Document Type: Article

References (52)

1. Alifanov V R. Some peculiarities of the Cretaceous and Paleogene lizard faunas of the Mongolian People's Republic. Kaupia 1993, 3:9-13.
2. Andrews C W. A descriptive catalogue of the Tertiary Vertebrata of the Fayûm, Egypt 1906, British Museum (Natural History), London, pp
3. Ast J C. Mitochondrial DNA evidence and evolution in Varanoidea (Squamata). Cladistics 2001, 17:211-226.
4. AugÉ M, Rage J-C. Herptofauna from the upper Paleocene and lower Eocene of Morocco. Annales de Paléontologie 2006, 92:235-253.
5. Averianov A O, Danilov I G. A varanid lizard (Squamata: Varanidae) from the early Eocene of Kirghizia. Russian Journal of Herpetology 1997, 4:143-147.
6. Bailon S, Rage J-C. Squamates Néogène et Pléistocène du Rift Occidental, Ouganda. Geology and palaeoecology of the Albertine Rift Valley, Uganda-Zaire, vol. II: palaeobiology 1994, 129-135. Senut B, Pickford M. eds, CIFEG Occasional Publications 1994/29, Orléans, pp
7. Bown T M, Kraus M J. Geology and paleoenvironment of the Oligocene Jebel Qatrani Formation and adjacent rocks, Fayum Depression, Egypt. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1988, 1452:1-60.
8. Brochu C A, Gingerich P D. New tomistomine crocodylian from the middle Eocene (Bartonian) of Wadi Hitan, Fayum Province, Egypt. Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan 2000, 30:251-268.
9. Bush A B G. Numerical simulation of the Cretaceous Tethys circumglobal current. Science 1997, 275:807-810.
10. Calsbeek R, Smith T B. Ocean currents mediate evolution in island lizards. Nature 2003, 426:552-555.
11. Camp C L. Classification of the lizards. American Museum of Natural History Bulletin 1923, 48:289-481.
12. Clos L M. A new species of Varanus (Reptilia: Sauria) from the Miocene of Kenya. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 1995, 15:254-267.
13. Conrad J L. Phylogeny and systematics of Squamata (Reptilia) based on morphology. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2008, 210:1-182.
14. Estes R. Sauria Terrestria Amphisbaenia. Encyclopedia of paleoherpetology 1983a, Welnhoffer P. ed, Vol. 10A, Gustav Fischer, Stuttgart, pp
15. Estes R. The fossil record and early distribution of lizards. Advances in herpetology and evolutionary biology. Essays in Honor of Ernest E. Williams 1983b, 365-398. Rhodin A G JMiyata K. eds, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachesetts, pp
16. Frey E. Anatomie des Körperstammes von Alligator mississippiensis Daudin. Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde Serie A (Biologie) 1988, 424:1-106.
17. Fuller S, Baverstock P, King D. Biogeographic origins of goannas (Varanidae): a molecular perspective. Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution 1998, 9:294-307.
18. Gaffney E, Deblieux D, Simons E, Sanchez-Villagra M R, Meylan P A. Redescription of the skull of Dacquemys Williams, 1954, a podocnemidid side-necked turtle from the late Eocene of Egypt. Novitates 2002, 3372:1-16.
19. Gilmore C. Fossil lizards of North America. Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences, Third Memoir 1928, 22:1-201.
20. Gingerich P D. Marine mammals (Cetacea and Sirenia) from the Eocene of Gebel Mokattam and Fayum, Egypt: stratigraphy, age and paleoenvironments. University of Michigan Papers on Paleontology 1992, 30. ix +, pp
21. Gray J. A synopsis of the genera of saurian reptiles, in which some new genera are indicated and others reviewed by actual examination. Annals of Philosophy 1827, 2:54-58.
22. Hartenberger J-L, Crochet J-Y, Martinez C, Marandat B, SigÉ B. The Eocene mammalian fauna of Chambi (Tunisia) in its geological context. Eocene biodiversity - unusual occurrences and rarely sampled habitats 2001, 237-250. Gunnell G F, ed, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York
23. Hoffstetter R. Présence de Varanidae (Reptilia: Sauria) dans le Miocène de Catalogne. Considérations sur l'histoire de la famille. Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (Série 2) 1968, 40:1051-1064. 1969
24. Hoffstetter R, Gasc J P. Vertebrae and ribs of modern reptiles. Biology of the reptilia, volume 1 1969, 201-310. Gans C, ed, Academic Press, New York, pp
25. Jennings W B, Pianka E R. Tempo and timing of the Australian Varanus radiation. Varanoid lizards of the World 2004, 77-87. Pianka E R, King D RKing R L. eds, Indiana University Press, Indianapolis, pp
26. Lee S Y. The phylogeny of varanoid lizards and the affinities of snakes. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B 1997, 352:53-91.
27. MCKenzie D P. Plate Tectonics of the Mediterranean Region. Nature 1970, 226:239-243.
28. Merrem B. Versuch eines systems der Amphibien 1820, Vol. 8, J. C. Krieger, Marburg, xv +, pp
29. Molnar R E. The long and honorable history of monitors and their kin. Varanoid lizards of the World 2004, 10-67. Pianka E RKing D RKing R L. eds, Indiana University Press, Indianapolis, pp
30. Molnar R E, Pianka E R. Biogeography and phylogeny of varanoids. Varanoid lizards of the World 2004, 68-76. Pianka E R, King D RKing R L. eds, Indiana University Press, Indianapolis, pp
31. Murray A M. Late Eocene and early Oligocene teleost and associated ichthyofauna of the Jebel Qatrani Formation, Fayum, Egypt. Palaeontology 2004, 47:711-724.
32. Murray A M. A new channid (Teleostei: Channiformes) from the Eocene and Oligocene of Egypt. Journal of Paleontology 2006, 80:1172-1178.
33. Norell M A, Gao K. Braincase and phylogenetic relationships of Estesia mongolensis from the Late Cretaceous of the Gobi Desert and the recognition of a new clade of lizards. Novitates 1997, 3211:1-25.
34. Oppel M. Die Ordnungren, Familien, und Gattungen der Reptilien als Prodrom einer Naturgeschichte derselben 1811, J. Lindauer, Munchen, pp
35. Peyer B. Die Welse des ägyptischen Alttertiärs nebst einer kritischen Übersicht über alle fossilen Welse. Abhandlungen der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematisch-Naturwissenshaftliche Abteilung 1928, 32:1-61.
36. Varanoid lizards of the World 2004, Pianka E RKing D RKing R L. eds, Indiana University Press, Indianapolis, pp
37. Rage J-C, Bailon S. Amphibians and squamate reptiles from the late early Miocene (MN 4) of Béon 1 (Montréal-du-Gers, southwestern France). Geodiversitas 2005, 27:413-441.
38. Rasmussen D T, Simons E L, Hertel F, Judd A. Hindlimb of a giant terrestrial bird from the upper Eocene, Fayum, Egypt. Palaeontology 2001, 44:325-337.
39. Rawlinson P A, Widjoya A H T, Hutchinson M N, Brown G W. The terrestrial vertebrate fauna of the Krakatau Islands, Sunda Strait, 1883-1986. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society London, B 1990, 328:3-28.
40. Reshetov V Y, Trofimov N S, Ckhikvadze V M. On the vertebrates of the Andarak locality (Middle Eocene). Byulleten Moskovskoe Obshchestvo Ispytatelei Prirody. Otdel Geologischeskii 1978, 53:151-152. [In Russian]
41. Rieppel O, Grande L. The anatomy of the varanid lizard Saniwa ensidens Leidy, 1870, based on a newly discovered complete skeleton. Journal of Paleontology 2007, 81:643-665.
42. Schoener T W, Spiller D A, Losos J B. Natural restoration of the species-area relation for a lizard after a hurricane. Science 2001, 294:1525-1528.
43. Seiffert E R, Simons E L, Clyde W C, Rossie J B, Attia Y, Bown T M, Chatrath P, Mathison M E. Basal anthropoids from Egypt and the antiquity of Africa's higher primate radiation. Science 2005, 310:300-304.
44. Seiffert E R, Bown T M, Clyde W C, Simons E L. Geology, paleoenvironment, and age of Birket Qarun Locality 2 (BQ-2), Fayum Depression, Egypt. Elwyn Simons: a search for origins 2008, 71-86. Fleagle J G, Gilbert C C, eds, Springer, New York, pp
45. Simons E L. Etyptian Oligocene primates: a review. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 1995, 38:199-238.
46. Smith K T, Bhullar B-A S, Holroyd P A. Earliest African record of the Varanus stem clade (Squamata: Varanidae) from the early Oligocene of Egypt. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 2008, 28:909-913.
47. Thewissen J G M, MCKenna M C. Paleobiogeography of Indo-Pakistan: a response to Briggs, Patterson, and Owen. Systematic Biology 1992, 41:248-251.
48. Thomas H, Roger J, Sen S, Dejax J, Schuler M, Al-Sulaimani Z, Bourdillon De Grissac C, Breton G, De Broin F, Camoin G, Cappetta H, Carriol R-P, Cavelier C, Chaix C, Crochet J-Y, Farjanel G, Gayet M, Gheerbrant E, Lauriat-Rage A, NöL D, Pickford M, Poignant A-F, Rage J-C, Roman J, Rouchy J-M, SecrÉTan S, SigÉ B, Tassy P, Wenz S. Essai de reconstitution des milieux de sédimentation et de vie des primates anthropoïdes de l'Oligocène de Taqah (Dhofar, Sultanat d'Oman). Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France 1991, 162:713-724.
49. Van Couvering J A, Van Couvering J A H. African isolation and the Tethys Seaway. Proceedings of the Sixth Congress Regional Committee on Mediterranean Neogene Stratigraphy, Bratislava, 1975 1976, 6:363-367.
50. Venczel M. Lizards from the late Miocene of Polgárdi (W-Hungary). Nymphaea 2006, 33:25-38.
51. Wing S L, Tiffney B H. A paleotropical flora from the Oligocene Jebel Qatrani Formation of northern Egypt: a preliminary report. Botanical Society of America, Miscellaneous Series Publication 1982, 162:67.
52. Zerova G A, Ckhikvadze V M. Neogene varanids of the USSR. Studies in herpetology: Proceedings of the European Herptological Meeting 1986, 689-694. RoČEk Z, ed, Prague, pp