Post by Sebbe on Jul 4, 2017 20:30:19 GMT
Evolution, diversity and interactions with past human populations of recently extinct Pholidoscelis lizards (Squamata: Teiidae) from the Guadeloupe Islands (French West-Indies)
Available from: www.researchgate.net/publication/318023353_Evolution_diversity_and_interactions_with_past_human_populations_of_recently_extinct_Pholidoscelis_lizards_Squamata_Teiidae_from_the_Guadeloupe_Islands_French_West-Indies [accessed Jul 4, 2017].
This paper aims to demonstrate how subfossil bone remains from Pleistocene and Holocene deposits can
help to reconstruct the history of recently extinct taxa through the example of Pholidoscelis lizards from
the Guadeloupe Islands in the French West Indies. To achieve this, we conducted a new anatomical and
zooarchaeological study of fossil Pholidoscelis remains collected from 23 archaeological and paleontological
deposits on the Guadeloupe Islands from which this genus is nowadays absent. Our results shed light on
the past existence of large Pholidoscelis lizards on all the Guadeloupe islands but also on the diculties of
condent specic identication for these remains. Nevertheless, we suggest a possible past occurrence of
the now extinct Pholidoscelis major on nearly all of the Guadeloupe islands. In addition, we identied a new
Pholidoscelis species, Pholidoscelis turukaeraensis sp. nov., on Marie-Galante Island, where no Pholidoscelis
lizards were previously reported. This new species underwent an increase in size after the end of the
Pleistocene period, possibly due to reduced predation pressure. We also highlight the consumption of
Pholidoscelis lizards by pre-Columbian Amerindians and the huge impact of European colonization, which
led to the extinction of all these lizards in less than 300 years.
help to reconstruct the history of recently extinct taxa through the example of Pholidoscelis lizards from
the Guadeloupe Islands in the French West Indies. To achieve this, we conducted a new anatomical and
zooarchaeological study of fossil Pholidoscelis remains collected from 23 archaeological and paleontological
deposits on the Guadeloupe Islands from which this genus is nowadays absent. Our results shed light on
the past existence of large Pholidoscelis lizards on all the Guadeloupe islands but also on the diculties of
condent specic identication for these remains. Nevertheless, we suggest a possible past occurrence of
the now extinct Pholidoscelis major on nearly all of the Guadeloupe islands. In addition, we identied a new
Pholidoscelis species, Pholidoscelis turukaeraensis sp. nov., on Marie-Galante Island, where no Pholidoscelis
lizards were previously reported. This new species underwent an increase in size after the end of the
Pleistocene period, possibly due to reduced predation pressure. We also highlight the consumption of
Pholidoscelis lizards by pre-Columbian Amerindians and the huge impact of European colonization, which
led to the extinction of all these lizards in less than 300 years.
Available from: www.researchgate.net/publication/318023353_Evolution_diversity_and_interactions_with_past_human_populations_of_recently_extinct_Pholidoscelis_lizards_Squamata_Teiidae_from_the_Guadeloupe_Islands_French_West-Indies [accessed Jul 4, 2017].