☆ 4.3 Article

Squamate reptiles from Kanapoi: Faunal evidence for hominin paleoenvironments

JOURNAL OF HUMAN EVOLUTION (2020)

Journal

JOURNAL OF HUMAN EVOLUTION

Volume 140, Issue -, Pages -

Publisher

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2018.01.007

Keywords

Squamata; Kanapoi; Africa; Neogene; Varanus; Python

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [MU 1760/4-1]
NSF [BCS-1231675, BCS-1231749, EAR-1338028]
Wenner Gren Foundation
University of Missouri Research Board

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Abstract

The squamate fossil record from Kanapoi reveals generic to higher-order similarities with modern East African herpetofaunas. The record is derived from surface collection and screen washing, and consists primarily of isolated vertebrae with a few maxillary and mandibular elements. The most abundant remains are vertebrae of large-bodied Python that are morphologically similar to extant Python sebae, and vertebrae of Varanus cf. (Varanus niloticus thorn Varanus exanthematicus). Additional cranial and vertebral remains indicate the presence of lygosomine skinks, indeterminate Varanus, Viperidae, cf. Atractaspididae, and multiple colubrine morphotypes in the Kanapoi ecosystem. Despite similarities with modern herpetofaunas, the Kanapoi record lacks taxa common to other East African records, including agamids, chamaeleonids, amphisbaenians, the elapid Naja, and typhlopids. The overall composition of the Kanapoi squamate record is consistent with paleoenvironments similar to modern shrub savanna habitats. There are no indicators of canopied forest environments in squamate faunal composition. The fossil record of Kanapoi suggests that assembly of squamate faunas of modern East Africa was well underway by the late Neogene. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Morphological and cytochemical characteristics of Varanus niloticus (Squamata, Varanidae) blood cells

Soha A. Soliman, Hanan H. Abd-Elhafeez, Nor-Elhoda Mohamed, Barakat M. Alrashdi, Abdullah A. A. Alghamdi, Ahmed Elmansi, Abdallah S. Salah, Samir A. A. El-Gendy, Catrin S. Rutland, Diaa Massoud

Summary: No previous studies have examined the blood morphology and characteristics of Varanus niloticus, a lizard in the Varanidae family. This study used stained blood and bone marrow samples to observe the cell types and morphologies present. The findings revealed nucleated erythrocytes with centrally located nuclei, filled with hemoglobin. Eosinophils were large cells with lobed nuclei and acidophilic granules. Heterophils, large granulocytes, exhibited fusiform/pleomorphic cytoplasmic granules. Basophils, small spherical granulocytes, had metachromatic granules that covered the nucleus, which had an unusual shape. Thrombocytes varied in shape and had elliptical nuclei and pale cytoplasm. Lymphocytes, the smallest non-granular leukocytes, had sparse cytoplasm, blue color, and tiny cytoplasmic projections. Monocytes, the largest mononuclear leucocytes, displayed cytoplasmic projections, ovoid or bean-shaped nuclei, and vacuolated and granular cytoplasm. Monocytic azurophils had round cells with granular cytoplasm and eccentric nuclei. This research provides a comprehensive identification of cell types and morphologies in Varanus niloticus.

MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE (2023)