Purbicella

Purbicella is a genus of extinct squamate from the Early Cretaceous of southern England (Lulworth Formation). The type and only species is Purbicella ragei, which was described by Susan E. Evans and colleagues in 2012 for a mostly complete and articulated skull from the Berriasian Lulworth Formation of Dorset. The generic name described the region of Purbeck where the fossil was found, while the species name honours paleoherpetologist Jean-Claude Rage. Purbicella has the most complete skull of any British fossil lizard, British Geological Survey (BGS) specimen GSb581, which was originally collected prior to 1911, but then remained in BGS storage until it was rediscovered and described by Evans and colleagues. The skull is unique among coexisting taxa for having fused frontal bones, and Purbicella is likely closer to modern lacertoids than any of the other British forms.[1]

Squamata
Lacertoidea

Purbicella

Lacertidae

Gymnophthalmidae

Teiidae

Anguimorpha

Becklesius

Paramacellodus

Parasaurillus

Cordyliformes

Scincidae

Purbicella
Temporal range: Berriasian
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Genus: Purbicella
Evans et al., 2012[1]
Species:
P. ragei
Binomial name
Purbicella ragei
Evans et al., 2012[1]

References

  1. Evans, S.E.; Jones, M.E.H.; Matsumoto, R. (2012). "A new lizard skull from the Purbeck Limestone Group (Lower Cretaceous) of England". Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France. 183 (6): 517–524. doi:10.2113/gssgfbull.183.6.517.
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