Abstract

ALBINO, Adriana M. IGUANIAN LIZARDS FROM THE COLHUEHUAPIAN (EARLY MIOCENE) OF GAIMAN, (CHUBUT PROVINCE, ARGENTINA). Ameghiniana [online]. 2008, vol.45, n.4, pp.775-782. ISSN 1851-8044.

The Early Miocene beds of the Sarmiento Formation at Gaiman, Chubut Province (Argentina) have provided one of the most relevant collection of Miocene squamates, including iguanians, teiids, boids, and colubrids. Fragmentary remains assigned to the extant iguanians Pristidactylus and Liolaemus are here described, representing the earliest records of these genera. Climatic and environmental changes occurred during the Neogene in Patagonian areas would have influenced differentially the squamate fauna, producing the retraction in the distribution of tupinambine teiids and boid snakes, and, in contrast, the diversification of iguanians on both sides of the Andes.

Keywords : Iguania; Miocene; Patagonia; Pristidactylus; Liolaemus.