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Loréal E., Syromyatnikova E.V., Danilov I.G., Čerňanský A.: The easternmost record of the largest anguine lizard that has ever lived – Pseudopus pannonicus (Squamata, Anguidae): new fossils from the late Neogene of Eastern Europe [New record of Pseudopus pannonicus from Eastern Europe] . Fossil Record #100059 Project ID: 000497477 Public
13 Media · 13 Specimens · Creator: Andrej Čerňanský · Managed by: Andrej Čerňanský

We here report on new material of Pseudopus pannonicus, the iconic and largest-known representative of the lizard clade Anguinae, from several late Neogene localities across Moldova, Ukraine, and regions of the North Caucasus – the last representing the easternmost known occurrence of this extinct species. Today, Pseudopus apodus, the last extant Pseudopus representative, is found in a variety of habitats ranging from South-East Europe to Central Asia. In the late Cenozoic of Europe, however, several extinct species of Pseudopus existed. Among them, interestingly, P. pannonicus displayed the largest spatiotemporal range of the genus, occurring from Spain to the North Caucasus and known from the Late Miocene to the Early Pleistocene. Although it has been reported in a plethora of European localities, P. pannonicus is a taxon “with several questionings related to its few diagnostic features vs. numerous features shared with P. apodus”. The elements described here exhibit some variability, but their overall morphology undoubtedly resembles that of previously described material of P. pannonicus. The lacrimal from Tatareshty, moreover, represents the first fossil lacrimal reported for P. pannonicus. Besides, the fairly complete maxilla with a length of almost 3.7 cm is the largest maxilla ever reported for this taxon, expanding our knowledge of its gigantism. In addition, several features are described and discussed regarding their diagnostic relevance for P. pannonicus. The relationship between body size and some of these features was tested statistically. Consequently, two cranial characters and one vertebral feature peculiar to P. pannonicus were retained in the diagnosis of the species.

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  ID Part Object Taxonomy Type Date Added Publication Status  
000497579 zin:ZIN PH 21-277 Pseudopus pannonicus Mesh 2023-02-17 Restricted Download  
000497574 zin:ZIN PH 19-277 Pseudopus pannonicus Mesh 2023-02-17 Restricted Download  
000497569 zin:ZIN PH 18-277 Pseudopus pannonicus Mesh 2023-02-17 Restricted Download  
000497560 zin:ZIN PH 17-277 Pseudopus pannonicus Mesh 2023-02-17 Restricted Download  
000497553 zin:ZIN PH 10-277 Pseudopus pannonicus Mesh 2023-02-17 Restricted Download  
000497542 zin:ZIN PH 6-279 Pseudopus pannonicus Mesh 2023-02-17 Restricted Download  
000497537 zin:ZIN PH 3-277 Pseudopus pannonicus Mesh 2023-02-17 Restricted Download  
000497530 zin:ZIN PH 2-282 Pseudopus pannonicus Mesh 2023-02-17 Restricted Download  
000497523 zin:ZIN PH 1/282 Pseudopus pannonicus Mesh 2023-02-17 Restricted Download  
000497514 zin:ZIN PH 1/280 Pseudopus pannonicus Mesh 2023-02-17 Restricted Download  
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