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Amphisbaenians from the European Eocene: a biogeographical review

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Abstract

In this paper, part of the amphisbaenian fossil record from the european Eocene is revised. There is no evidence for the existence of amphisbaenian lizards in Europe or on other continents during the Late Cretaceous. Crown amphisbaenians were present in Europe in the early Paleocene and throughout the Paleogene, with the notable exception of the middle Eocene. In particular, they were not found at Messel. European fossil taxa previously assigned to the amphisbaenians are briefly reviewed, and a description of some representative specimens from the Eocene fossil record is presented: dentary and vertebrae from Mutigny (early Eocene, France) are referred to the North American genus Anniealexandria; fossils from the late Eocene of the Phosphorites du Quercy (France) are attributed to Blanidae, and they are the earliest secure occurrence of Blanidae in the fossil record; and dentaries and maxillae from Grisolles (middle-late Eocene, Paris Basin, France) are referred to a new species, Louisamphisbaena ferox. Global distribution of fossil amphisbaenians in the Eocene reveals at least one episode of dispersal between North America and Europe during the early Eocene. Finally, some explanations are suggested for the absence of crown amphisbaenians at Messel and in the European middle Eocene.

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Acknowledgments

It is a particular pleasure to thank the Senckenberg Institute for its invitation to participate in the 22nd International Senckenberg Conference, and in particular T. Lehmann, S.F.K Schaal and S. Weber. For helpful advice and assistance, I would like to thank J.-C. Rage, K. Smith, J. Müller and S. Bailon. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the assistance provided by the MNHN and in particular by P. Janvier. I am indebted to C. Lemzaouda and P. Loubry from the MNHN for the photographs.

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  1. Muséum national d‘Histoire naturelle UMR 7207 CNRS, CP 38, Rue Buffon, 75231, Paris cedex 05, France

    Marc Louis Augé

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This article is a contribution to the special issue “Messel and the terrestrial Eocene - Proceedings of the 22nd Senckenberg Conference”

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Augé, M.L. Amphisbaenians from the European Eocene: a biogeographical review. Palaeobio Palaeoenv 92, 425–443 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-012-0104-6

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