The first cranial material of Varanus from the Miocene of India.

We here report on the maxilla of Varanus from a site D1 exposed near Haritalyangar and dated to the Late Miocene (~9.03 mya). This find represents the first Miocene cranial element of varanids from India. All the previously reported records of these iconic reptiles are based solely on isolated vertebrae. Thus, there is a complete lack of knowledge about the skull features of these lizards in this evolutionarily and biogeographically interesting region. Moreover, the fossil record of varanids is rather sparse throughout Asia. The discovery of the first cranial material sheds more light on the population of these lizards in India during the Miocene. Although the maxilla from Haritalyangar is an important piece of the puzzle, only new finds of other cranial elements can help to resolve the exact taxonomy of these Miocene forms. In any case, the maxilla seems to be different from today's common Indian Varanus bengalensis, being more similar to Varanus salvator, but also to several other species of Varanus. The occurrence of this thermophilic reptile taxon at this site suggests a mean annual temperature not less than around 15°C in this area during the Late Miocene.