Late Pleistocene Egernia Group Skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) From Devils Lair, Western Australia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2011
Description
Research on squamate evolution of Australia has predominantly focused on the eastern portion of the continent, whereas little is known about the record from Western Australia. Deposits in Devils Lair provide a glimpse of late Pleistocene Egernia group skink representation from the Cape Leeuwin-Naturaliste region of southwestern Western Australia. Previous studies of fossils from the cave indicate a peak in the number of lizard remains during the last glacial maximum, a time when mammal and charcoal remains suggest an open, dry environment. Previous studies of Devils Lair have not attempted to identify lizard remains beyond 'lizard'. Here, we identify Egernia group lizard remains as Liopholis spp., Egernia spp., Lissolepis spp. and Tiliqua rugosa, which range in age from ca 48000 to 13000 yr B.P.
Citation Information
Hollenshead, Marci G.; Mead, Jim I.; and Swift, Sandra L.. 2011. Late Pleistocene Egernia Group Skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) From Devils Lair, Western Australia. Alcheringa. Vol.35(1). 31-51. https://doi.org/10.1080/03115518.2010.481827 ISSN: 0311-5518