Late Pleistocene Egernia group skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) from Devils Lair, Western Australia

Abstract

Research on squamate evolution of Australia has predominantly focused on the eastern portion of the continent, whereas little is known about the record from Western Australia. Deposits in Devils Lair provide a glimpse of late Pleistocene Egernia group skink representation from the Cape Leeuwin-Naturaliste region of southwestern Western Australia. Previous studies of fossils from the cave indicate a peak in the number of lizard remains during the last glacial maximum, a time when mammal and charcoal remains suggest an open, dry environment. Previous studies of Devils Lair have not attempted to identify lizard remains beyond ‘lizard’. Here, we identify Egernia group lizard remains as Liopholis spp., Egernia spp., Lissolepis spp. and Tiliqua rugosa, which range in age from ca 48 000 to 13 000 yr B.P.

Key words:

• skink
• Egernia
• Scincidae
• Western Australia
• cave
• Pleistocene

Acknowledgements

We appreciate the help of Paul Doughty, Claire Stephenson, Brad Maryan and Alex Baynes of Western Australian Museum for accessing field permits, field help, discussions, and laboratory assistance in creating the modern comparative collection of lizards. We thank Mark N. Hutchinson for many discussions and use of the comparative collection at the South Australian Museum, Adelaide. Chris J. Bell (University of Texas, Austin) is thanked for his assistance during numerous field seasons to develop the modern comparative collection at the Western Australian Museum, and for extended discussions about modern lizard cranial anatomy. We thank Ernie L. Lundelius for copies of his field notes and for many years of discussion about Australian caves and faunas; his years of experience have been invaluable. Gavin Prideaux (Flinders University, Adelaide) is thanked for his many discussions about caves, fossil deposits, and faunas. We are grateful for the many discussions about lizard skeletal anatomy and fossils with Glen Shea, Allen Greer and Scott Hocknull. We thank Aimee Mead for her help in collecting the modern comparative collection. Kris Lappin (Cal Poly Pomona) is thanked for his discussions about lizards. We appreciate the insightful comments and suggestions of two anonymous reviewers.