Archaeovaranus
Archaeovaranus (meaning "ancient "Varanus"") is genus of varanid lizard from the early Eocene (Ypresian) Yuhuangding Formation of Hubei Province, China. The genus contains a single species, Archaeovaranus lii, known from a nearly complete skeleton. The holotype, which includes an intact skull, is associated but disarticulated. "Archaeovaranus" fills a gap in the varanid fossil record, as it represents a stem-varanid from the early Eocene of East Asia, closely related to "Varanus". Discovery and naming. The holotype specimen of "Archaeovaranus", IVPP V 22770, was discovered at the Dajian locality of the Yuhuangding Formation near Danjiangkou, Hubei Province, China. The generic  name, ""Archaeovaranus"," combines the Greek "archaīos," meaning "ancient," with a reference to the closely related "Varanus". ""Varanus"" is derived from the Arabic "waral," meaning "lizard beast." The specific name, ""lii"," honors the paleontologist Chuankui Li, whose research included studies of the "Archaeovaranus" type locality. Description. The holotype specimen represents an adult individual, around 16 years old at the time of death. However, a lack of fusion at the distal ends of the humerus and femur suggest that the individual was still growing. "Archaeovaranus" was closely related to "Saniwa", the most completely known and widely accepted stem-varanid, from the early  Eocene Green River Formation of Wyoming, United States. Paleoecology. The mammals "Rhombomylus", "Advenimus", "Asiocoryphodon" and "Danjiangia" are also known from layers of the Yuhuangding Formation.