On Segurasaurus (Squamata: Pythonomorpha), a New Genus of Lizard from the Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous) of Portugal

Abstract

Carentonosaurus soaresi was recently described in the uppermost middle Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous) of Casais dos Carecos (Coimbra, western Portugal) based on a diverse set of new material (cervical and dorsal vertebrae) of the Pythonomorpha lizard. The main morphological characteristics observed in the vertebrae used for the diagnosis of this species are the presence of distinct lateral and subcentral foramina, highly laterally projected paradiapophyses beyond the prezygapophyses, a low subrectangular neural spine ornamented with longitudinal grooves, and dorsal vertebrae displaying a sagittal furrow along the ventral surface. Additional diagnostic details observed both in new material and the previously studied vertebrae are described herein, such as the presence of keels in the zygantrum and zygosphene. These and other important morphological characteristics present in the species soaresi are absent in the genotype Carentonosaurus mineaui and in other known Squamata, allowing for the definition of the new genus Segurasaurus.