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Synchrotron tomography of a stem lizard elucidates early squamate anatomy. Nature 2022; 611:99-104. [DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05332-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Vršanský P, Aristov D, Hain M, Kúdelová T, Kúdela M, Metscher B, Palková H, Káčerová J, Hinkelman J. Longest-surviving Carboniferous-family insect found in Mesozoic amber. Biologia (Bratisl) 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-022-01192-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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3
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Čerňanský A, Stanley EL, Daza JD, Bolet A, Arias JS, Bauer AM, Vidal-García M, Bevitt JJ, Peretti AM, Aung NN, Evans SE. A new Early Cretaceous lizard in Myanmar amber with exceptionally preserved integument. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1660. [PMID: 35102237 PMCID: PMC8803969 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05735-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We here report on a well-preserved juvenile lizard specimen in Albian amber (ca. 110 mya) from the Hkamti site (Myanmar). This new taxon is represented by an articulated skull and the anterior portion of the trunk, including the pectoral girdle and forelimbs. The scleral ossicles and eyelid are also visible, and the specimen exhibits pristine detail of the integument (of both head and body). In a combined molecular and morphological analysis, it was consistently recovered as a scincoid lizard (Scinciformata), as sister to Tepexisaurus + Xantusiidae. However, the phylogenetic position of the new taxon should be interpreted with caution as the holotype is an immature individual. We explored the possibility of miscoding ontogenetically variable characters by running alternative analyses in which these characters were scored as missing data for our taxon. With the exception of one tree, in which it was sister to Amphisbaenia, the specimen was recovered as a Pan-xantusiid. Moreover, we cannot rule out the possibility that it represents a separate lineage of uncertain phylogenetic position, as it is the case for many Jurassic and Cretaceous taxa. Nonetheless, this fossil offers a rare opportunity to glimpse the external appearance of one group of lizards during the Early Cretaceous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrej Čerňanský
- Department of Ecology, Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina, 84215, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Edward L Stanley
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Juan D Daza
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA
| | - Arnau Bolet
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - J Salvador Arias
- Unidad Ejecutora Lillo (CONICET, Fundación Miguel Lillo), San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Aaron M Bauer
- Department of Biology and Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, USA
| | - Marta Vidal-García
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Joseph J Bevitt
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney, Australia
| | - Adolf M Peretti
- GRS Gemresearch Swisslab AG, Baumschulweg 13, 6045, Meggen, Switzerland
- Peretti Museum Foundation, Baumschulweg 13, 6045, Meggen, Switzerland
| | - Nyi Nyi Aung
- Peretti Museum Foundation, Baumschulweg 13, 6045, Meggen, Switzerland
- Myanmar Geosciences Society, c/o Department of Geology, University of Yangon, 11041, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Susan E Evans
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
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Smith KT. Paleontology: It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Oculudentavis! Curr Biol 2021; 31:R950-R952. [PMID: 34375597 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Few animals have experienced such jarring taxonomic whiplash as has Oculudentavis, a tiny tetrapod preserved in amber. A new specimen of this perplexing lineage now shows that it is a lizard unlike any ever discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krister T Smith
- Department of Messel Research and Mammalogy, Senckenberg Research Institute, and Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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5
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Bolet A, Stanley EL, Daza JD, Arias JS, Čerňanský A, Vidal-García M, Bauer AM, Bevitt JJ, Peretti A, Evans SE. Unusual morphology in the mid-Cretaceous lizard Oculudentavis. Curr Biol 2021; 31:3303-3314.e3. [PMID: 34129826 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.05.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Oculudentavis khaungraae was described based on a tiny skull trapped in amber. The slender tapering rostrum with retracted narial openings, large eyes, and short vaulted braincase led to its identification as the smallest avian dinosaur on record, comparable to the smallest living hummingbirds. Despite its bird-like appearance, Oculudentavis showed several features inconsistent with its original phylogenetic placement. Here, we describe a more complete specimen that demonstrates Oculudentavis is actually a bizarre lizard of uncertain position. The new specimen is described as a new species within the genus Oculudentavis. The new interpretation and phylogenetic placement highlight a rare case of convergent evolution in skull proportions but apparently not in morphological characters. Our results re-affirm the importance of Myanmar amber in yielding unusual taxa from a forest ecosystem rarely represented in the fossil record.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnau Bolet
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Edward L Stanley
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Juan D Daza
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA.
| | - J Salvador Arias
- Unidad Ejecutora Lillo (CONICET - Fundación Miguel Lillo), San Miguel, de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Andrej Čerňanský
- Department of Ecology, Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Marta Vidal-García
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Aaron M Bauer
- Department of Biology and Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, USA
| | - Joseph J Bevitt
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Adolf Peretti
- GRS Gemresearch Swisslab AG and Peretti Museum Foundation, Meggen, Switzerland
| | - Susan E Evans
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
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Dubois A. ‘Retraction' of taxonomic papers: the meaning of the word ‘issued’ and related ones in zoological nomenclature. ZOOSYSTEMA 2020. [DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2020v42a26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alain Dubois
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles Reptiles & Amphibiens, CP 30, 25 rue Cuvier 75005 Paris (France)
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Dubois A. Nomenclatural consequences of the Oculudentavis khaungraae case, with comments on the practice of ‘retraction’ of scientific publications. ZOOSYSTEMA 2020. [DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2020v42a23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alain Dubois
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB) Muséum national d′Histoire naturelle CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles Reptiles & Amphibiens, CP 30 25 rue Cuvier 75005 Paris (France)
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Viglione G. World's smallest dinosaur is probably a lizard. Nature 2020:10.1038/d41586-020-02214-7. [PMID: 32704106 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-020-02214-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Viglione G. This miniature skull belonged to a 2-gram dinosaur. Nature 2020:10.1038/d41586-020-00668-3. [PMID: 32161347 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-020-00668-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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