Xu, Li; Dong, Liping; Gao, Diansong; Li, Yu; Wu, Yanhua; Chang, Fei; Li, Jie; Xu, Li; Dong, Liping; Gao, Diansong; Li, Yu; Wu, Yanhua; Chang, Fei; Li, Jie; Evans, Susan; - view fewer (2025) A new anguimorph lizard from the Upper Cretaceous of Henan Province, China. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology , 23 (1) , Article 2470790. 10.1080/14772019.2025.2470790.

Text Dong et al. 2025.pdf - Accepted Version Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 8 April 2026. Download (667kB)

Abstract

A new genus and species of anguimorph lizard, Zhongyuanxi jiai gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Upper Cretaceous (?Maastrichtian) Qiupa Formation of Henan Province, China. Its holotype specimen is represented by a three-dimensionally preserved partial skull and is described based on micro-CT scans of the overall skull and individual bones. Phylogenetic analyses using Bayesian inference place it as the sister taxon to the Mongolian Aiolosaurus oriens on the stem of Varanidae, whether or not a molecular constraint is applied. One of the more unusual features of Zhongyuanxi jiai is the presence of vomerine teeth, which have been recorded in a single living lizard (Pseudopus) and a small number of fossil anguimorphs, suggesting a more widespread distribution of this character among squamates, especially within Anguimorpha. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:830A9292-B0B9-4852-BAB5-AC1BCC46379C.

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