Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 1998 / Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Botany & Zoology. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There has been a long-standing need to systematically analyze and classify South
African fossil Lacertilia. Although extensive assemblages of fossil lizard and amphibian
material from Langebaan on the West Coast and elsewhere exist in museum collections, the
fragmentary nature of the material has largely prevented in-depth analyses and identification.
In this comparative study the skulls and lower jaws of 7 lizard genera, representing the
six extant South African families, were disassembled and the bones analyzed individually. The
aim was to compile a comparative database of each bone against which current and future fossil
finds could be matched. Detailed descriptions of the isolated elements were given. The results
showed that despite some intra-generic variation, unique structural differences do exist in
individual bones which may be utilized in the taxonomic assessment of fragmentary fossil
material. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar bestaan lank reeds 'n behoefte vir die sistematiese analise en klassifisering van
fossielmateriaal van Suid-Afrikaanse Lacertilia. Alhoewel uitgebreide versamelings van
akkedis- en amfibier-fossiele van Langebaan aan die Weskus en elders in museums bestaan, het
die fragmentariese aard van die materiaal grootliks diepgaande analises en identifikasie
belemmer
In hierdie vergelykende studie is die skedels en onderkake van 7 akkedisgenera, wat die
ses resente Suid-Afrikaanse families verteenwoordig, gedisartikuleer en elke been individueel
geanaliseer. Die doel was om 'n vergelykende databasis van elke been saam te stel waarmee
huidige en toekomstige fossielvondse vergelyk kan word. Gedetaileerde beskrywings van die
ge'isoleerde elemente word gegee. Die resultate toon dat desondanks 'n mate van intra-generiese
variasie, unieke strukturele verskille tussen individuele bene weI bestaan en dat hierdie verskille
gebruik kan word om fossielfragmente taksonomies te analiseer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/70379 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Van den Worm, Johan H. |
| Contributors | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Botany and Zoology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 183 leaves : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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