This list of fossilreptiles described in 2016 is a list of new taxa of fossil reptiles that were described during the year 2016, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to reptile paleontology that occurred in 2016.
Lepidosaurs
Lizards
Research
Twelve specimens of lizards (including stem-gekkotans, crown-agamids, a lacertid, a putative stem-chamaeleonid and squamates of uncertain phylogenetic placement, probably stem-squamates) are described from the Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian boundary) amber from Myanmar by Daza et al. (2016);[1] however, the supposed stem-chamaeleonid is subsequently reinterpreted as an albanerpetontid amphibian by Matsumoto & Evans (2018).[2]
A study of almost 30 specimens of Polyglyphanodon sternbergi, including almost complete skeletons, is published by Simões et al. (2016), who report the discovery of previously unrecognized ontogenetic series, sexual dimorphism and a complete lower temporal bar in the skull of members of this species.[3]
New anatomical data on the Late Cretaceous lizard Slavoia darevskii is published by Tałanda (2016), who interprets it as a stem-amphisbaenian.[4]
A study on the skull anatomy of the Eocene amphisbaenian Spathorhynchus fossorium is published by Müller, Hipsley & Maisano (2016).[5]
A study on mosasaur tooth implantation and its phylogenetic implications is published by Liu et al. (2016).[6]
A redescription of the mosasaur Hainosaurus bernardi Dollo (1885) is published by Jimenez-Huidobro & Caldwell (2016), who transfer this species to the genus Tylosaurus and synonymize genera Tylosaurus and Hainosaurus.[7]
A revision of the species assigned to the mosasaur genus Tylosaurus is published by Jiménez-Huidobro, Simões & Caldwell (2016);[8] their conclusion that T. kansasensis is a junior synonym of T. nepaeolicus is subsequently rejected by Stewart & Mallon (2018).[9]
Early Miocenechamaeleonid fossils, including a specimen tentatively attributed to the species Chamaeleo cf. andrusovi Čerňanský (2010), previously known only from the early Miocene of the Czech Republic, are described from the Aliveri locality (Euboea, Greece) by Georgalis, Villa & Delfino (2016).[10]
Lizard fossils which might be the oldest known chameleon fossils from India are described from the MioceneNagri Formation by Sankhyan & Čerňanský (2016).[11]
An iguanian belonging to the group Acrodonta. The type species is J. aleadonta. Originally described as coming from the Cretaceous Kem Kem Group; Vullo et al. (2022) argued that its fossil material is actually Quaternary in age, and considered it to be a fossil material of a member of the genus Uromastyx.[15]
A member of Scincomorpha belonging to the family Hodzhakuliidae. The type species is P. altidentatus. The generic name is preoccupied by Platynotoides Kaszab (1975).
Lee et al. (2016) examine the limb anatomy of Tetrapodophis amplectus, which according to the authors is suggestive of aquatic habits.[19]
A redescription of the Cenomanian snake Simoliophis rochebrunei on the basis of new fossil material from France is published by Rage, Vullo & Néraudeau (2016).[20]
Smith & Scanferla (2016) describe a juvenile specimen of Palaeopython fischeri from the EoceneMessel pit with preserved stomach contents, including a specimen of the stem-basilisk species Geiseltaliellus maarius, which in turn preserves an unidentified insect in its stomach.[21]
McNamara et al. (2016) describe pigment cells responsible for coloration and patterning preserved in a fossil skin of a colubrid snake from the Late Miocene Libros Lagerstätte (Teruel, Spain).[22]
New fossil material of the viperidLaophis crotaloides is described from Greece by Georgalis et al. (2016).[23]
A member of Boidae. A new genus for "Messelophis" ermannorum Schaal & Baszio (2004).
Ichthyosauromorphs
Research
A study of taxonomic richness, disparity and evolutionary rates of ichthyosaurs throughout the Cretaceous period is published by Fischer et al. (2016).[27]
A revision of the ichthyosaur material of the British Middle and Late Jurassic referable to Ophthalmosaurus icenicus is published by Moon & Kirton (2016).[29]
A member of Leptonectidae. The type species is W. massarae.
Sauropterygians
Research
A study of the histology and microanatomy of the humeri of members of the genus Nothosaurus is published by Klein et al. (2016).[37]
A reassessment of fossils attributed to the genus Polyptychodon is published by Madzia (2016), who considers the type species of this genus, P. interruptus, to be nomen dubium, and the genus Polyptychodon to be a wastebasket taxon.[38]
A redescription of the holotype specimen of Brancasaurus brancai and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Sachs, Hornung & Kear (2016), who consider the species Gronausaurus wegneri to be a junior synonym of B. brancai.[40]
A study on the morphological diversity of the skulls of the fossil and recent turtles through time is published by Foth & Joyce (2016).[51]
A study of the bone shell histology of Condorchelys antiqua and its implications for the lifestyle of the species is published by Cerda, Sterli & Scheyer (2016).[52]
A study of the bone histology of shell elements of the Late Cretaceous—Paleocene chelidYaminuechelys is published by Jannello, Cerda & de la Fuente (2016).[53]
A review of the fossil record, taxonomy and diagnostic features of the fossil species belonging to the genus Chelus is published by Ferreira et al. (2016).[54]
An emended diagnosis of Testudo catalaunica and a study of phylogeny of extinct members of the genus Testudo is published by Luján et al. (2016).[56]
Giant tortoise fossils collected from the late Miocene-early Pliocene Mehrten Formation (California, USA) are identified as belonging to members of the species Hesperotestudo orthopygia by Biewer et al. (2016).[57]
A member of Bothremydidae. The type species is I. pernambucensis. Its status as a valid taxon was challenged by Romano (2016), who considered the genus Inaechelys to be a junior synonym of the genus Rosasia and the species I. pernambucensis/Rosasia pernambucensis to be a nomen dubium.[65]
A member of Proterochersidae. The type species is Keuperotesta limendorsa. The genus Keuperotesta was considered to be a junior synonym of the genus Proterochersis by Joyce (2017), though the author maintained K. limendorsa as a distinct species within the latter genus.[67]
A member of Bothremydidae. The type species is P. tibert. Pérez-García (2018) considered the genus Paiutemys to be a junior synonym of the genus Algorachelus, and transferred the species P. tibert to the latter genus.[74]
A relative of trionychids; a new genus for "Trionyx" messelianus Reinach (1900). However, Karl (2018) considered Palaeoamyda to be a junior synonym of the genus Rafetoides, and transferred "Trionyx" messelianus to the latter genus.[76]
A skull of a juvenile specimen of Delorhynchus cifellii is described from the Richards Spur locality (Oklahoma, United States) by Haridy et al. (2016).[80]
A revision of the systematics of the Chinese pareiasaurs is published by Benton (2016).[81]
A study of evolution of body size of the carnivorous and herbivorous members of Captorhinidae is published by Brocklehurst (2016).[82]
Two new specimens of Atopodentatus unicus are described by Chun et al. (2016), providing new information on the skull anatomy of this species and indicating that its rostrum, rather than being downturned as originally assumed, developed a hammerhead-like shape.[84]
Description of new material of Hemilopas mentzeli from the Middle Triassic of Silesia (Poland) and a study of the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Surmik (2016).[85]
A study on the maximum body size and distribution of the reptile species known to have gone extinct during the last 50,000 years, as well as the role played by these factors in recent reptile extinction events, is published by Slavenko et al. (2016).[88]
^Paulina Jimenez-Huidobro; Michael W. Caldwell (2016). "Reassessment and reassignment of the early Maastrichtian mosasaur Hainosaurus bernardi Dollo, 1885, to Tylosaurus Marsh, 1872". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 36 (3): e1096275. Bibcode:2016JVPal..36E6275J. doi:10.1080/02724634.2016.1096275. S2CID87315531.
^Paulina Jiménez-Huidobro; Tiago R. Simões; Michael W. Caldwell (2016). "Re-characterization of Tylosaurus nepaeolicus (Cope, 1874) and Tylosaurus kansasensis Everhart, 2005: Ontogeny or sympatry?". Cretaceous Research. 65: 68–81. Bibcode:2016CrRes..65...68J. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2016.04.008.
^Anek R. Sankhyan; Andrej Čerňanský (2016). "A first possible chameleon from the late Miocene of India (the hominoid site of Haritalyangar): a tentative evidence for an Asian dispersal of chameleons". The Science of Nature. 103 (11–12): 94. Bibcode:2016SciNa.103...94S. doi:10.1007/s00114-016-1419-3. PMID27796428. S2CID16508393.
^ abcV. R. Alifanov (2016). "Lizards of the family Hodzhakuliidae (Scincomorpha) from the lower Cretaceous of Mongolia". Paleontological Journal. 50 (5): 504–513. doi:10.1134/S0031030116050038. S2CID132972679.
^Michelle R. Stocker; E. Christopher Kirk (2016). "The first amphisbaenians from Texas, with notes on other squamates from the middle Eocene Purple Bench Locality". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 36 (3): e1094081. Bibcode:2016JVPal..36E4081S. doi:10.1080/02724634.2016.1094081. S2CID53623435.
^Michael S.Y. Lee; Alessandro Palci; Marc E.H. Jones; Michael W. Caldwell; James D. Holmes; Robert R. Reisz (2016). "Aquatic adaptations in the four limbs of the snake-like reptile Tetrapodophis from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil". Cretaceous Research. 66: 194–199. Bibcode:2016CrRes..66..194L. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2016.06.004.
^Jean-Claude Rage; Romain Vullo; Didier Néraudeau (2016). "The mid-Cretaceous snake Simoliophis rochebrunei Sauvage, 1880 (Squamata: Ophidia) from its type area (Charentes, southwestern France): Redescription, distribution, and palaeoecology". Cretaceous Research. 58: 234–253. Bibcode:2016CrRes..58..234R. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2015.10.010.
^Krister T. Smith; Agustín Scanferla (2016). "Fossil snake preserving three trophic levels and evidence for an ontogenetic dietary shift". Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments. 96 (4): 589–599. doi:10.1007/s12549-016-0244-1. S2CID88869050.
^ abDean R. Lomax; Judy A. Massare (2016). "Two new species of Ichthyosaurus from the lowermost Jurassic (Hettangian) of Somerset, England". Papers in Palaeontology. 3 (1): 1–20. doi:10.1002/spp2.1065. S2CID89567182.
^José Patricio O'Gorman (2019). "First record of Kawanectes lafquenianum (Plesiosauria, Elasmosauridae) from the La Colonia Formation of Argentina, with comments on the mandibular morphology of elasmosaurids". Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 44: 1–18. doi:10.1080/03115518.2019.1687754. S2CID218637381.
^Xiaohong Chen; Long Cheng; Chuanshang Wang; Baomin Zhang (2016). Triassic marine reptile faunas from Middle and Upper Yangtze areas and their co-evolution with environment. Geological Publishing House. pp. 1–234. ISBN9787116094123.
^Nicole Klein; Dennis F. A. E. Voeten; Adam Haarhuis; Remco Bleeker (2016). "The earliest record of the genus Lariosaurus from the early middle Anisian (Middle Triassic) of the Germanic Basin". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 36 (4): e1163712. Bibcode:2016JVPal..36E3712K. doi:10.1080/02724634.2016.1163712. S2CID87855284.
^Juan Marcos Jannello; Ignacio A. Cerda; Marcelo S. de la Fuente (2016). "Shell bone histology of the long-necked chelid Yaminuechelys (Testudines: Pleurodira) from the late Cretaceous—early Palaeocene of Patagonia with comments on the histogenesis of bone ornamentation". The Science of Nature. 103 (3–4): 26. Bibcode:2016SciNa.103...26J. doi:10.1007/s00114-016-1346-3. PMID26931610. S2CID16491882.
^Gabriel S. Ferreira; Ascanio D. Rincón; Andrés Solórzano; Max C. Langer (2016). "Review of the fossil matamata turtles: earliest well-dated record and hypotheses on the origin of their present geographical distribution". The Science of Nature. 103 (3–4): 28. Bibcode:2016SciNa.103...28F. doi:10.1007/s00114-016-1355-2. PMID26940060. S2CID6055673.
^Adán Pérez-García (2016). "A new turtle taxon (Podocnemidoidea, Bothremydidae) reveals the oldest known dispersal event of the crown Pleurodira from Gondwana to Laurasia". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 15 (9): 709–731. doi:10.1080/14772019.2016.1228549. S2CID88840423.
^A. Pérez-García; M.T. Antunes; F. Barroso-Barcenilla; P.M. Callapez; M. Segura; A.F. Soares; A. Torices (2017). "A bothremydid from the middle Cenomanian of Portugal identified as one of the oldest pleurodiran turtles in Laurasia". Cretaceous Research. 78: 61–70. Bibcode:2017CrRes..78...61P. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2017.05.031.
^Anny Rafaela de Araújo Carvalho; Aline Marcele Ghilardi; Alcina Magnólia Franca Barreto (2016). "A new side-neck turtle (Pelomedusoides: Bothremydidae) from the Early Paleocene (Danian) Maria Farinha Formation, Paraíba Basin, Brazil". Zootaxa. 4126 (4): 491–513. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4126.4.3. PMID27395602.
^ abcdJason R. Bourque (2016). "New mud turtles (Kinosternidae, Kinosternon) from the middle–late Miocene of the United States". Journal of Paleontology. 89 (5): 821–844. doi:10.1017/jpa.2015.63. S2CID130766881.
^Oliver A. López-Conde; Juliana Sterli; Jesus Alvarado-Ortega; María L. Chavarría-Arellano (2016). "A new platychelyid turtle (Pan-Pleurodira) from the Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) of Oaxaca, Mexico". Papers in Palaeontology. 3 (2): 161–174. doi:10.1002/spp2.1069. S2CID131981917.
^Dawid Surmik (2016). "Hemilopas mentzeli, an enigmatic marine reptile from the Middle Triassic of Poland revisited". Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen. 282 (2): 209–223. doi:10.1127/njgpa/2016/0614.
^Sarah Werning; Sterling J. Nesbitt (2016). "Bone histology and growth in Stenaulorhynchus stockleyi (Archosauromorpha: Rhynchosauria) from the Middle Triassic of the Ruhuhu Basin of Tanzania". Comptes Rendus Palevol. 15 (1–2): 163–175. Bibcode:2016CRPal..15..163W. doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2015.03.004. S2CID82928048.
^Cesar Leandro Schultz; Max Cardoso Langer; Felipe Chinaglia Montefeltro (2016). "A new rhynchosaur from south Brazil (Santa Maria Formation) and rhynchosaur diversity patterns across the Middle-Late Triassic boundary". PalZ (Paläontologische Zeitschrift). 90 (3): 593–609. doi:10.1007/s12542-016-0307-7. hdl:11449/161986. S2CID130644209.
^Mark J. MacDougall; Sean P. Modesto; Robert R. Reisz (2016). "A new reptile from the Richards Spur Locality, Oklahoma, USA, and patterns of Early Permian parareptile diversification". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 36 (5): e1179641. Bibcode:2016JVPal..36E9641M. doi:10.1080/02724634.2016.1179641. S2CID89333948.
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