DOI: 10.5061/dryad.b39vg73
title: Data from: The first pre-Quaternary fossil record of the clade Mabuyidae with a comment on the enclosure of the Meckelian canal in skinks

description: We here describe the first Neogene record of the squamate clade Mabuyidae.
 Although this clade has a cosmopolitan distribution today, no
 pre-Quarternary fossil record of these reptiles has so far been
 documented. The material comes from the locality Solnechnodolsk (Russia)
 and is dated to the late Miocene (MN 13). Although it comprises only jaw
 elements, it constitutes the first evidence of the occurrence of fossil
 skinks around the area of the Black Sea. The material is identical to
 Heremites vittatus, showing the existence of this lineage as early as the
 late Miocene. Thus, it may be used as a potential calibration point for
 further studies. The comparative anatomy of the structures of lower jaw in
 selected scincomorph taxa with a special reference to Mabuya group is
 presented. The closure of the Meckelian canal is the condition at the
 basal node of the clade Sphenomorphidae + Eugongylidae + Egerniidae +
 Mabuyidea, whereas the closed canal in Acontias (Acontidae) evolved
 independently. However, Sphenomorphidae (Asymblepharus and Scincella) +
 Eugongylidae (Ablepharus) retain a large anterior opening of the Meckelian
 canal, whereas only a small opening characterizes the basal node of
 Egerniidae and Mabuyidae, except for H. vittatus and H. septemtaeniatus.
 The closure of the Meckelian canal in these two taxa is less well
 developed in comparison with other mabuyid skinks. Thus, a heterochronic
 pedomorphic process might have played a role in the evolution of these
 skinks. The Meckelian canal condition supports the monophyly of Heremites.
description: Analysis in
 MesquiteMesquite was used for
 optimizations and ancestral state determinations.Acontias
 meleagrisCT datasets of Acontias
 meleagris NHMW 10653-1 from Čerňanský and Syromyatnikova Papers in
 Palaeontology CT data include stl 3D model and DICOM files. All can be
 open with winrar + and Volume Graphic studio and AVIZO.Heremites
 vittatusCT datasets of Heremites
 vittatus DJ 6735 from Čerňanský and Syromyatnikova Papers in Palaeontology
 CT data include stl 3D model and DICOM files. All can be open with winrar
 + and Volume Graphic studio and AVIZO.Heremites
 auratusCT datasets of Heremites
 auratus ZMB Herp 1261 from Čerňanský and Syromyatnikova Papers in
 Palaeontology CT data include stl 3D model and DICOM files. All can be
 open with winrar + and Volume Graphic studio and AVIZO.Heremites
 septemtaeniatusCT datasets of Heremites
 septemtaeniatus NHMW 34793 from Čerňanský and Syromyatnikova Papers in
 Palaeontology CT data include stl 3D model and DICOM files. All can be
 open with winrar + and Volume Graphic studio and AVIZO.Heremites
 septemtaeniatus juvenileCT datasets of Heremites
 septemtaeniatus (juvenile) DJ 2922 from Čerňanský and Syromyatnikova
 Papers in Palaeontology CT data include stl 3D model and DICOM files. All
 can be open with winrar + and Volume Graphic studio and
 AVIZO.Eutropis
 multifasciataCT datasets of eutropis
 multifasciata (AC) from Čerňanský and Syromyatnikova Papers in
 Palaeontology CT data include stl 3D model and DICOM files. All can be
 open with winrar + and Volume Graphic studio and AVIZO.Eutropis multifaciata
 AC.rarBroadleysaurus
 majorCT datasets of
 Broadleysaurus major (AC) from Čerňanský and Syromyatnikova Papers in
 Palaeontology CT data include stl 3D model and DICOM files. All can be
 open with winrar + and Volume Graphic studio and AVIZO.Ablepharus
 kitaibeliiCT datasets of
 Ablepharus kitaibelii SNM St 504 from Čerňanský and Syromyatnikova Papers
 in Palaeontology CT data include stl 3D model and DICOM files. All can be
 open with winrar + and Volume Graphic studio and AVIZO.Asymblepharus
 alaicusCT datasets of
 Asymblepharus alaicus DJ 3986 from Čerňanský and Syromyatnikova Papers in
 Palaeontology CT data include stl 3D model and DICOM files. All can be
 open with winrar + and Volume Graphic studio and AVIZO.Chalcides
 chalcidesCT datasets of Chalcides
 chalcides SNM 76 from Čerňanský and Syromyatnikova Papers in Palaeontology
 CT data include stl 3D model and DICOM files. All can be open with winrar
 + and Volume Graphic studio and AVIZO.Scincella
 reevesiiCT datasets of Scincella
 reevesii DJ 5206 from Čerňanský and Syromyatnikova Papers in Palaeontology
 CT data include stl 3D model and DICOM files. All can be open with winrar
 + and Volume Graphic studio and AVIZO.Scincus
 scincusCT datasets Scincus
 scincus SNM 885 from Čerňanský and Syromyatnikova Papers in Palaeontology
 CT data include stl 3D model and DICOM files. All can be open with winrar
 + and Volume Graphic studio and AVIZO.Tiliqua
 scincoidesCT datasets of Tiliqua
 scincoides (AC) from Čerňanský and Syromyatnikova Papers in Palaeontology
 CT data include stl 3D model and DICOM files. All can be open with winrar
 + and Volume Graphic studio and AVIZO.