Carusia intermedia (Borsuk-Bialynicka 1985, Kegin and Norell 1998, Late Creteaceous) was originally described as a questionable Scincomorphan, with the name Carolina. Kegin and Norell (1998) recovered it in the Anguimorpha.
Be that as it may, this little round-headed lizard nests as a protosquamate sister to Homoeosaurus both derived from a sister to Daohugo lizard. The Kegina nd Norell analysis included over 37,000 trees, which is over 36,999 more trees than the large reptile tree. They nested Carusia with Shinisaurus a close relative of Banhnwivici, a taxon published in 2006. The resemblance is strong, worth taking a look at. The teeth and palate are quite distinct, though with Shinisaurus having fewer, larger sharper teeth and a more gracile palate and an exapanded occiput. Shifting Carusia closer to Bahndwivici adds 11 to 16 steps.
Overall larger than the Daohugou lizard, the skull of Carusia had a longer postorbital region and a smaller naris. The upper temporal fenestrae were larger. The palate is quite telling in that the nares and vomernasal orgains were just beginning to separate in this taxon. The tiny teeth were set side-by-side in a comb-like arrangement, better seen from the medial side with only the chisel-shaped tips appearing on the lateral side.
The skull is heavily incrusted with osteoderms (large scales). |
