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2017 in reptile paleontology
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2017 in reptile paleontology

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils.[1] This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 2017.

Lepidosaurs

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Rhynchocephalians

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Research

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New taxa

[edit]
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Deltadectes[7]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Whiteside, Duffin & Furrer

Late Triassic

 Switzerland

A basal member of Rhynchocephalia. The type species is D. elvetica.

Gephyrosaurus evansae[8]

Sp. nov

Valid

Whiteside & Duffin

Late Triassic (Rhaetian)

United Kingdom

Penegephyrosaurus[8]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Whiteside & Duffin

Late Triassic (Rhaetian)

United Kingdom

A member of the family Gephyrosauridae. The type species is P. curtiscoppi.

Vadasaurus[9]

Gen. et sp. nov

Bever & Norell

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)

Solnhofen Limestone

Germany

A relative of pleurosaurids. The type species is V. herzogi.

Lizards and snakes

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Research

[edit]
  • A study comparing inner ear morphology of Dinilysia patagonica and extant lizards and snakes is published by Palci et al. (2017).[10]
  • An overview of the discoveries of Mesozoic lizards from Brazil is published by Simões et al. (2017).[11]
  • A study on the origins of the Australian fauna of lizards and snakes is published by Oliver & Hugall (2017).[12]
  • A study on the nomenclature and phylogenetic relationships of the lizard species assigned to the genus Necrosaurus is published by Georgalis (2017), who assigns the species Necrosaurus cayluxi and Melanosauroides giganteus to the genus Palaeovaranus and names a new family Palaeovaranidae.[13]
  • A study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Eichstaettisaurus schroederi and Ardeosaurus digitatellus is published by Simões et al. (2017).[14]
  • A redescription of the anatomy of the holotype specimen of the teiid species Callopistes bicuspidatus from the late Miocene–early Pliocene of Argentina is published by Brizuela & Albino (2017).[15]
  • An almost complete skull and a few associated postcranial bones of the lacertid Dracaenosaurus croizeti are described from the Oligocene locality of Cournon (south-central France) by Čerňanský et al. (2017).[16]
  • A description of the anatomy of the postcranial skeleton of the putative stem-amphisbaenian Slavoia darevskii and a study on its implications for the evolution of the postcranial skeleton of amphisbaenians is published by Tałanda (2017).[17]
  • Description of a new specimen of Geiseltaliellus maarius from the Eocene Messel pit (Germany), preserving details of the squamation, is published by Smith (2017).[18]
  • A study testing whether extant anole species adapted to similar ecological niches have similar semicircular canal morphologies, as well as a reconstruction of the vestibular system in five Miocene anoles from the Dominican Republic and a study on their ecology is published by Dickson et al. (2017).[19]
  • An autotomized tail of a shinisaurid is described from the Eocene Messel pit (Germany) by Smith (2017).[20]
  • Fossils of a monitor lizard are described from the middle Pleistocene of Greece by Georgalis, Villa & Delfino (2017), representing the most recent known record of the family Varanidae from Europe.[21]
  • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of members of Mosasauroidea is published by Simões et al. (2017).[22]
  • A study on the robustness of the hypotheses about mosasauroid phylogenetic relationships and a reevaluation of the dataset from the study of Simões et al. (2017) is published by Madzia & Cau (2017).[23]
  • A revision of mosasauroids from the Upper Cretaceous marine sediments associated with Gondwanan landmasses is published by Jiménez-Huidobro, Simões & Caldwell (2017).[24]
  • A redescription of Mosasaurus hoffmannii based on examination of many specimens is published by Street & Caldwell (2017), who also provide emended diagnoses for both the genus Mosasaurus and its type species M. hoffmannii.[25]
  • A study on the presence of ligamentous tooth attachment in mosasaurs and in fossil and modern snakes is published by LeBlanc, Lamoureux & Caldwell (2017).[26]
  • A pachyostotic marine squamate specimen belonging to the family Pachyophiidae, consisting of 29 vertebrae, is described from the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Đurić et al. (2017).[27]
  • An overview of the snake fossil record from Brazil is published by Onary, Fachini & Hsiou (2017).[28]
  • A redescription of the type material of Gigantophis garstini, a reevaluation of referred material from North Africa and Pakistan, and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of Gigantophis and other madtsoiids is published by Rio & Mannion (2017).[29]
  • Snake fossils, including the first record of an indigenous member of the genus Pantherophis in West Indies and the first reported member of the genus Nerodia in the fossil record of West Indies, are described from the late Pleistocene of the Bahamas by Mead & Steadman (2017).[30]
  • A large viperine snake assigned to the genus Macrovipera is reported from the early Vallesian of Romania by Codrea et al. (2017), representing the first occurrence of this genus in the late Miocene of eastern Romania.[31]

New taxa

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Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Gaimanophis powelli[32]

Sp. nov

Valid

Albino

Late Miocene

India Muerta Formation

Argentina

A boa.

Kaikaifilu[33]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Otero et al.

Late Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian)

Lopez de Bertodano Formation

Antarctica

A mosasaur. The type species is K. hervei.

Magnuviator[34]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

DeMar et al.

Late Cretaceous (Campanian)

Two Medicine Formation

United States
( Montana)

A member of Iguanomorpha (the group containing crown and stem-iguanians) related to Saichangurvel davidsoni and Temujinia ellisoni. The type species is M. ovimonsensis.

Norisophis[35]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Klein et al.

Cretaceous

Kem Kem Beds

Morocco

A stem-snake. The type species is N. begaa.

Oardasaurus[36]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Codrea, Venczel & Solomon

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)

Romania

A member of Teiioidea, possibly a relative of Barbatteius vremiri. Genus includes new species O. glyphis.

Pholidoscelis turukaeraensis[37]

Sp. nov

Valid

Bochaton et al.

Late Pleistocene and Holocene

France
(Marie-Galante Island)

A member of Teiidae.

Schoenesmahl[38]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Conrad

Late Jurassic (Tithonian)

Solnhofen Limestone

Germany

A relative of Ardeosaurus found in the abdominal cavity of the holotype specimen of Compsognathus longipes. The type species is S. dyspepsia.

Stefanikia[39]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Čerňanský & Smith

Eocene

Messel pit

Germany

A lizard related to Eolacerta and the wall lizards. The type species is S. siderea.

Varanus mokrensis[40]

Sp. nov

Valid

Ivanov et al.

Early Miocene

Czech Republic

A monitor lizard.

Yabeinosaurus bicuspidens[41]

Sp. nov

Valid

Dong, Wang & Evans

Early Cretaceous

Yixian Formation

China

Yabeinosaurus robustus[41]

Sp. nov

Valid

Dong, Wang & Evans

Early Cretaceous

China

Zilantophis[42]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Jasinski & Moscato

Late Hemphillian

Gray Fossil Site

United States
( Tennessee)

A colubrid snake. Genus includes new species Z. schuberti.

Ichthyosauromorphs

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Research

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New taxa

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Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Gengasaurus[49]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Paparella et al.

Late Jurassic

Italy

A member of Ophthalmosauridae. The type species is G. nicosiai.

Keilhauia[50]

Gen. et sp. nov

Disputed

Delsett et al.

Early Cretaceous (early Berriasian)

Agardhfjellet Formation

Norway

A member of Ophthalmosauridae. The type species is K. nui. Zverkov & Prilepskaya (2019) considered Keilhauia to be a junior synonym of the genus Arthropterygius, and considered K. nui to be nomen dubium;[51] Delsett et al. (2019) rejected this synonymy.[52]

Protoichthyosaurus applebyi[53]

Sp. nov

Valid

Lomax, Massare & Mistry

Early Jurassic (Hettangian)

United Kingdom

Sauropterygians

[edit]

Research

[edit]

New taxa

[edit]
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Acostasaurus[75]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Gómez-Pérez & Noè

Early Cretaceous (Barremian)

Paja Formation

Colombia

A member of the family Pliosauridae. Genus includes new species A. pavachoquensis.

Hispaniasaurus[76]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Marquez-Aliaga et al.

Middle Triassic (Ladinian)

Cañete Formation

Spain

A marine reptile with nothosauroid affinities. The type species is H. cranioelongatus.

Lagenanectes[77]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Sachs, Hornung & Kear

Early Cretaceous (probably late Hauterivian)

Germany

A member of Elasmosauridae. The type species is L. richterae.

Luskhan[78]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Fischer et al.

Early Cretaceous

Russia

A member of Pliosauridae. The type species is L. itilensis.

Mauriciosaurus[79]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Frey et al.

Late Cretaceous

Aguas Nuevas Formation

Mexico

A member of Polycotylidae. The type species is M. fernandezi.

Nakonanectes[80]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Serratos, Druckenmiller & Benson

Late Cretaceous (early Maastrichtian)

Bearpaw Shale

United States
( Montana)

A member of Elasmosauridae. The type species is N. bradti.

Rhaeticosaurus[81]

Gen. et sp. nov

Wintrich et al.

Late Triassic (Rhaetian)

Exter Formation

Germany

An early plesiosaur, possibly a basal member of Pliosauridae. The type species is R. mertensi.

Thaumatodracon[82]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Smith & Araújo

Early Jurassic (Sinemurian)

United Kingdom

A member of the family Rhomaleosauridae. The type species is T. wiedenrothi.

Turtles

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Research

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New taxa

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Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Andrewsemys[113]

Gen. et comb. nov

Valid

Pérez-García

Late Eocene and early Oligocene

Egypt

A member of the family Podocnemididae belonging to the subfamily Erymnochelyinae; a new genus for "Stereogenys" libyca Andrews (1903).

Apalone amorense[114]

Sp. nov

Valid

Valdes, Bourque & Vitek

Miocene (Clarendonian)

Alachua Formation

United States
( Florida)

A species of Apalone.

Cabindachelys[115]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Myers et al.

Early Paleocene

Angola

A stem-cheloniid. The type species is C. landanensis.

Chelonoidis marcanoi[116]

Sp. nov

Disputed

Turvey et al.

Late Quaternary

Dominican Republic

A tortoise, a species of Chelonoidis. Considered to be a nomen dubium by Albury et al. (2018).[117]

Eocenochelus[118]

Gen. et comb. et 2 sp. nov

Valid

Pérez-García, de Lapparent de Broin & Murelaga

Eocene (middle Ypresian to Priabonian)

Belgium[119]
France
Spain
United Kingdom[120]

A member of Podocnemididae belonging to the subfamily Erymnochelyinae. The type species is "Erymnochelys" eremberti Broin (1977); genus also includes new species E. lacombianus and E. farresi.

Lutemys[121]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Lyson, Joyce & Sertich

Late Cretaceous (Campanian)

Kaiparowits Formation

United States
( Utah)

A stem-kinosternoid. Genus includes new species L. warreni.

Mendozachelys[122]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

De la Fuente et al.

Late Cretaceous (late Campanian–early Maastrichtian)

Loncoche Formation

Argentina

A member of Chelidae. The type species is M. wichmanni.

Perochelys hengshanensis[123]

Sp. nov

Valid

Brinkman, Rabi & Zhao

Early Cretaceous

Hengshan Formation

China

A pan-trionychid.

Petrochelys[124]

Gen. et comb. nov

Valid

Vitek et al.

Early Cretaceous (Albian)

Kyrgyzstan

A member of Trionychidae; a new genus for "Trionyx" kyrgyzensis Nessov (1995).

Plesiochelys bigleri[125]

Sp. nov

Valid

Püntener, Anquetin & Billon-Bruyat

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)

Reuchenette Formation

 Switzerland

A member of the family Plesiochelyidae.

Rionegrochelys[126]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

De la Fuente, Maniel & Jannello in De La Fuente et al.

Late Cretaceous

Plottier Formation

Argentina

A relative of members of the family Chelidae. The type species is R. caldieroi.

“Trionyx” onomatoplokos[127]

Nom. nov

Valid

Georgalis & Joyce

Late Cretaceous (Santonian–early Campanian)

Bostobe Svita

Kazakhstan

A member of Pan-Trionychidae of uncertain phylogenetic placement; a replacement name for Palaeotrionyx riabinini Kuznetsov & Chkhikvadze (1987).

Archosauriformes

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Archosaurs

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Other archosauriforms

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Other reptiles

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Research

[edit]

New taxa

[edit]
Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images

Avicranium[151]

Gen. et sp. nov

Pritchard & Nesbitt

Late Triassic (late Norian or Rhaetian)

Chinle Formation

United States
( New Mexico)

A member of the family Drepanosauridae. The type species is A. renestoi.

Pectodens[152]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Li et al.

Middle Triassic (Anisian)

Guanling Formation

China

A long-necked archosauromorph reptile of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly a member of Protorosauria. The type species is P. zhenyuensis.

Shringasaurus[153]

Gen. et sp. nov

Valid

Sengupta, Ezcurra & Bandyopadhyay

Middle Triassic (Anisian)

Denwa Formation

India

An archosauromorph reptile belonging to the group Allokotosauria and the family Azendohsauridae. The type species is S. indicus.

References

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