A new durophagous scincomorphan lizard genus from the Late Cretaceous Iharkút locality (Hungary, Bakony Mts)

Abstract

The Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Iharkut terrestrial vertebrate locality in Hungary has already yielded scincomorphan taxa such as the polyglyphanodontines Bicuspidon and Distortodon and the chamopsiid Pelsochamops. Besides these, more lacertilian material is available, including a single right mandible, different from both the abovementioned genera from Iharkut and from other previously known taxa. This specimen is described here as Chromatogenys tiliquoides gen. nov. sp. nov. The open Meckelian canal, the wide subdental shelf with deep sulcus dentalis, and the pleurodont teeth support the referral of the specimen to Scincomorpha. Within that, Chromatogenys differs from groups known from Iharkut, such as polyglyphanodontines and chamopsiids, and is also distinct from other contemporary scincomorphs from Europe, North America, and Asia. It exhibits a combination of mixed characters, some of which are shared by scincids, cordylids, and contogeniids. Chromatogenys might be a representative of a new family within Scincomorpha, but its familiar relationships should be considered to be uncertain (familia incertae sedis) until more material is found. Chromatogenys had a durophagous dentition similar to those of extant skinks such as Tiliqua, and most probably had a similar diet too, composed of molluscs, eggs, insects, small vertebrates, and fruits.