Yabeinosaurus tenuis (Endo and Shikama 1942) Early Cretaceous orignally described as weakly ossified with Gekkotan affinities. Evans, Wang and Li (2005) added larger specimens, like IVPP V13285, to this taxon, but note that the manus was distinct from the smaller specimen illustrated here, IVPP V13284, so the larger one is not conspecific. The analyses by Evans, Wang and Li (2005) nested Yabeinosaurus either with Ardeosaurus outside of the Squamata or between Iguania and Scleroglossa at the base of the Squamata. Neither is supported here.

In the large reptile study, Yabeinosaurus (IVPP V 13284) was derived from a sister to Tchingisaurus and phylogenetically preceded all members of the Anguimorpha, including Bahndwivici. Shinisaurus and Estesia.

Overall smaller than and distinct from Tchingisaurus, the skull of Yabeinosaurus had a smaller orbit and shorter lateral temporal fenestra. The teeth were longer. The suborbital portion of the jugal was deeper. The premaxilla was shorter that did not split the nasals.

The neural spines were shorter. The anterior vertebrae were larger than the posterior ones.

The scapulocoracoid was smaller. The forelimbs were shorter. Manual digit 3 was subequal with 4. The penultimate phalanges were not the longest.

The pubis was more robust. The ilium had no anterior process. The ischium was smaller, especially distally (ventrally). The hind limbs were shorter. The astragalus and calcaneum were not coosified. Pedal digit 5 was relatively longer.

At left: the many differences in the manus of two specimens Evans, Wang and Li (2005) attributed to Yabeinosaurus. Furthermore, the lower jaws of the larger specimen were narrow anteriorly, maintaining a long symphysis, but that doesn't seem to be the pattern present in the smaller specimen.

Above, the purported embryo of Yabeinosaurus. Middle, tracing of same using DGS. Lower, published tracing of embryo using microscope and pencil.

Sakurasaurus sp. (SBEI 199, Evans and Manabe 2008, Early Cretaceous, Japan). The holotype (Evans and Manabe 1999) was considered a possible scincomorph (family of skinks) based on jaw material.

Evans and Manabe 2008 nested SBEI 199 with Yabeinosaurus, Ardeosaurus, Scandensia and all other squamates in order of increasing distance. The large reptile tree changes that slightly, nesting Sakurasaurus with Yabeinosaurus at the base of the varanids

Endo R and Shikama T 1942. Mesozoic reptilian fauna in the Jehol mountainland, Manchoukuo. Bulletin of the Central National Museum of Manchoukuo 3: 1–19.

Evans SE and Manabe M 1999. Early Cretaceous lizards from the Okurodani Formation of Japan. Geobios, 32, 889–899.

Evans SE, Wang Y and Li C 2005. The early Cretaceous lizards genus Yabeinosaurus from China: resolving an enigma. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 3(4): 319-335.

Evans SE and Manabe M 2008. The Early Cretaceous lizards of eastern Asia: New material of Sakurasaurusa from Japan. Special Papers in Palaeontology 81:43-59.