The Daohugo Enigma - Evans and Wang (2009) introduced us to a complete and largely articulated tiny lizard from the Daohugou horizon (Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous). They considered it a scansorial juvenile with a slender body and relatively long limbs and extremities. They found the phylogenetic placement "problematic," but considered it a possible scleroglossan due to the high presacral count of 27.
Added to the large study, the Daohugou enigma nests with Carusia and Homoeosaurus, basal protosquamates, outside of the Iguania + Scleroglossa. It was derived from Lacertulus and basal to Homoeosaurus. Sister taxa display similar fusion traits, so the ontogenetic age cannot be ascertained and no allometric guesswork should be attempted. Juveniles were similar to adults in this clade.
Relative to Lacertulus the palate was more gracile and the hind limbs were shorter. |
