Pamelaria dolichotrachela, a new prolacertid reptile from the Middle Triassic of India

Abstract

A new genus and species Pamelaria dolichotrachela, belonging to the family Prolacertidae is reported for the first time from the Middle Triassic of India. The material consisting of associated skeletons and isolated bones has been excavated from the red mudstone of Yerrapalli Formation of Pranhita–Godavari Basin, South India. The nature of disposition of bones strongly suggests a catastrophic death and quick burial. The reconstructed skeleton of P. dolichotrachela strongly suggests that it was a quadrupedal sprawler. A detailed description of the new taxon and its comparison with other better known prolacertids of the world reveals a very close resemblance with Prolacerta broomi [Ann. Mag. Nat. History 16 (1935) 197], the type genus and species of the family. A number of characters like a relatively large skeleton; confluent nostril, lower jaw with a prominent coronoid and accessory neural spines in the posteriorcaudals with a sudden shift of neural spine position establish its distinctiveness.