Acta Palaeontologica Polonica

Priscagaminae, a new subfamily of the Agamidae (Sauria) from the Late Cretaceous of the Gobi Desert

Magdalena Borsuk-Białynicka and Scott M. Moody

Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 29 (1-2), 1984: 51-81

Several new and well preserved lizard skulls from the Late Cretaceous of the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, referred to as Mimeosaurus crassus Gilmore, 1943 In the literature, are assigned to two new genera and species, Priscagama  gobiensis and Pleurodontagama aenigmatodes. They, together with Mimeosaurus crassus, comprise a newly described subfamily Priscagaminae of the family Agamidae. Assignement of Mimeosaurus to this subfamily is tentative since the new specimens of M. crassus are fragmentary. Comparative analysis of skull characters in different iguanian families and those of the lizards here described suggests existence of a monophyletic taxon including agamids, Uromastix-Leiolepis group and Priscagama group but not chamaeionids. Familial status and the name Agamidae are retained for this taxon. Agamids, uromasticids and priscagamids are consequently given subfamilial status until new evidence comes.

Key words: Reptilia, Sauria, Agamidae, Cretaceous, Mongolia.


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