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Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. Bell & Howell Information and Leaming 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Artx)r, Ml 48106-1346 USA U lM l 800-521-0600 UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE NEW RECORDS OF EARLY, MEDIAL, AND LATE CRETACEOUS LIZARDS AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE CRETACEOUS LIZARD FAUNA OF NORTH AMERICA A Dissertation SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY By RANDALL LAWRENCE NYDAM Norman, Oklahoma 2000 UMI Number 9962951 UMI UMI Microform9962951 Copyright 2000 by Bell & Howell Information and Leaming Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Beil & Howell Information and Leaming Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 © Copyright by RANDALL L. NYDAM 2000 All Rights Reserved. NEW RECORDS OF EARLY, MEDIAL, AND LATE CRETACEOUS LIZARDS AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE CRETACEOUS LIZARD FAUNA OF NORTH AMERICA A Dissertation APPROVED for the DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY BY PREFACE This dissertation has been prepared as five chapters. Each of the five chapters has been or will be submitted for publication in either a refereed edited volume or a refereed journal for publication. The first chapter is formatted as a chapter for the book Vertebrate Paleontology in Utah, edited by David D. Gillette, Miscellaneous Publication 99-1 of the Utah Geological Survey, Salt Lake City. Chapters two through five are formatted for submission to the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology; chapter 2 as a Rapid Communication (a format for expedited publication of reports of outstanding new discoveries, concepts, or interpretations) and chapters 3-5 as articles. IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The work for this dissertation began in the summer of 1992, prior to my enrollment at the University of Oklahoma, when I first joined Dr. Cifelli in Utah for several weeks of fieldwork in the Cedar Mountain Formation, It is to Dr. Richard Lawrence Cifelli that I owe a great debt of gratitude as I complete this dissertation program. Not only did he serve as my advisor for this project, but he also went out of his way on numerous occasions to assist me during my development as a vertebrate paleontologist. There is insufficient space to mention all of the ways in which he helped and guided, but some include financial assistance for laboratory and field work; patient instruction of many concepts of paleontological science, paleontological field work, and professional relationships. He also provided me several opportunities to lead my own expeditions in Utah and Oklahoma. The other members of my advisory committee also deserve recognition. Dr. Nicholas J. Czaplewski has an encyclopedic knowledge of vertebrate osteology and an unending reserve of patience and good humor. Nick is by far one of the best and most genuine persons that I have met during my several years in academia. Dr. Laurie J. Vitt is an accomplished herpetologist and an excellent source of discussion and debate and provided me with many useful critiques of my work. Dr. Gary D. Schnell is the consummate editor and made time in what can only be described as very full schedule to review my work and suggest many useful revisions. Dr. Charles W. Harper provided a number of educational comments on systematics. There are many other people at the University of Oklahoma who also deserve recognition for their assistance over the past several years. Dick Durtsche was always a source of encouragement and a great person to with which to discuss concepts of herpetology, student life, and the challenges of completing a Ph D. while at the same time trying to raise a family. Shawn Sartorius, Jose Pedro do Amaral, and Bill Lutterschmidt are all good friends and valued colleagues that were called upon many times to discuss my research. Beth Larson, Cindy Gordon, Kent Smith, Pat Goldberg, Julian Hilliard, Mat Wedel, Keelie Rennie, Ernie Sanders, and Estelle and Christy Miller all provided help in the laboratory and/or field. Outside of OU I would like to recognize Jim Gardner, Michael Caldwell, Gao Keqin, Chris Bell, Jim Mead, Bob Denton, Jaques Gauthier, Susan Evans, and Jim Kirkland for their support, encouragement, and collaboration in many phases of my work. The Judd family of Castle Dale, Utah provided an unending source of support, both logistical and practical, during the many summers in central Utah. Jon, Cindy, Shawn, Rose, and Alex, I thank you. Partial funding for this project has come from numerous grants (National Science Foundation and National Geographic) to Rich Cifelli. I have also received funding from the University of Oklahoma Department of Zoology, the University of Oklahoma Graduate Student Senate, the Ying Chang Scholarship Fund (Dinamation International Society), American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, and from the Sigma Xi grants- in-aid of Research. I would like to finish by recognizing those people who were and are my most valued supporters. My wife Kathy and our two children, Cory and Samantha, are the VI focus and balance to my life. It is through their love, encouragement, and patience that I have been able to accomplish all that I have. I am certain that I would not have finished this work were it not for Kathy’s amazing patience and encouragement to continue when it seemed that to do so was futile. Also, my parents, Russell and Joy Nydam, have always been staunch supporters of my abilities and their belief in me has been a constant source of strength. I can’t thank them enough for all they have done. Paul and Diane Thomas, my father and mother in-law have also been very supportive over the years and have become a valued part of my life. Vll TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE..............................................................................................................................iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS..................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES AND APPENDICES......................................................................... xiii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS..............................................................................................xiv ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................... xvii POLYGLYPHANODONTINAE (SQUAMATA:TEIIDAE) FROM THE MEDIAL AND LATE CRETACEOUS; NEW RECORDS FROM UTAH, U S A. AND BAJA CALIFORNIA DEL NORTE, MEXICO................................................. 1 ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................... 3 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................... 4 Introductory Remarks ................................................................................................4 Previous Work ............................................................................................................6 Abbreviations and Conventions ................................................................................7 MATERIALS AND METHODS.................................................................................... 8 GEOLOGICAL SETTING..............................................................................................8 SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY............................................................................. 10 Polyglyphanodon Gilmore 1940............................................................................. 11 Polyglyphanodon bajaensis new species .......................................................... 11 Dicothodon new genus .............................................................................................13 Dicothodon moorensis new species ...................................................................13 Dicothodon sp...........................................................................................................15 COMPARISONS...........................................................................................................16 DISCUSSION................................................................................................................ 19 History of the Cretaceous Teiidae ...........................................................................19