Amphibians and squamate reptiles from the lower Eocene of Silveirinha (Portugal)

Abstract

Key-words: Amphibia; Caudata; Anura; Reptilia; Lacertilia; Serpentes; Eocene; Portugal. Silveirinha (Portugal) has produced a diverse herpetofauna. In Europe, it is the only described assemblage of amphibians and squamate reptiles from the base of the Eocene (MP 7). The fauna includes at least two species of amphibians (belonging to the Salamandridae and perhaps the Pelobatidae) and at least 15 species of squamates (at least nine families: Iguanidae, Agamidae, Gekkonidae, one or two families of scincomorphans, Anguidae, ? Varanidae, Amphisbaenidae, Boidae, Tropidophiidae, and likely an indeterminate family of snakes). But, except for the snake Dunnophis matronensis, identifications at species level are not possible. The presence of iguanid lizards and of the snake D. matronensis in the base ofthe Eocene (MP 7) of Europe is confirmed. The fauna includes several squamates that show close affinities with North American taxa.