The microherpetofaunas recovered from the Kaiparowits Plateau, Utah, are described. Small reptiles and amphibians from 16 families and at least 22 genera were obtained from the Cenomanian Dakota, Turonian to Santonian Straight Cliffs, the early Campanian Wahweap, and the Campanian (Judithian) Kaiparowits Formations. A new genus and species of polyglyphanodontine, Manangyasaurus saueri, is described. The function of the unusual teeth of polyglyphanodontines is uncertain, but may have been related to frugivory. The polyglyphanodontines, in the restricted sense, appear to be confined to the western localities of the "southern communities" in the Judithian and Lancian. The early occurrence (Turonian) of Paraglyphanodon in the Straight Cliffs Formation suggests that the polyglyphanodontines may have been widespread during earlier Ages, permitting their dispersal to or from Asia. The genus Albanerpeton is best considered a member of the Order Caudata and its provisional assignment to the Family Prosirenidae is reasonable. The Polyglyphanodontidae, as presently defined, consists of a holophyletic group consisting of Polyglyphanodon, Paraglyphanodon, Manangyasaurus, and Cherminsaurus, and a poorly defined group consisting of the Asian "Macrocephalosauridae" Peneteius may also be a polyglyphanodontine, as the subfamily is presently defined.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/282518 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | McCord, Robert Dudridge, 1955- |
| Contributors | Lowe, Charles H. |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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