Unusual morphology in the mid-Cretaceous lizard Oculudentavis

Curr Biol. 2021 Jun 9:S0960-9822(21)00738-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.05.040. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTOculudentavis khaungraae was described based on a tiny skull trapped in amber. The slender tapering rostrum with retracted narial openings, large eyes, and short vaulted braincase led to its identification as the smallest avian dinosaur on record, comparable to the smallest living hummingbirds. Despite its bird-like appearance, Oculudentavis showed several features inconsistent with its original phylogenetic placement. Here, we describe a more complete specimen that demonstrates Oculudentavis is actually a bizarre lizard of uncertain position. The new specimen is described as a new species within the genus Oculudentavis. The new interpretation and phylogenetic placement highlight a rare case of convergent evolution in skull proportions but apparently not in morphological characters. Our results re-affirm the importance of Myanmar amber in yielding unusual taxa from a forest ecosystem rarely represented in the fossil record.PMID:34129826 | DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2021.05.040

Source: Current Biology - June 15, 2021 Category: Biology Authors: Arnau Bolet Edward L Stanley Juan D Daza J Salvador Arias Andrej Čerňanský Marta Vidal-Garc ía Aaron M Bauer Joseph J Bevitt Adolf Peretti Susan E Evans Source Type: research