Systematics and Biogeography of fossil Squamata of the Cuban Quaternary

• Grant number: 16/09391-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: January 01, 2017
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Paleozoology
• Principal Investigator: Hussam El Dine Zaher
• Grantee: Ernesto Aranda Pedroso
• Host Institution: Museu de Zoologia (MZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

All Squamata fossil records in Cuba belong to the Quaternary, mainly associated with cave deposits. At moment are recorded the species Anolis lucius, A. equestris, A. porcatus, A. luetogularis, A. chamaleonides, Tarentola americana, Leiocephalus cubensis, L. carinatus, Cyclura nubila, Chilabothrus angulifer and Cubophis cantherigerus, representing 7.3% of the current Cuban fauna of Squamata. There are a lot of pieces without identifying due to lack of experts. Materials will be studied come from five paleontological collections, of 19 different deposits in the Central and West of Cuba. This study will obtain the most comprehensive analysis of the taxonomic and biogeographic state fossil Squamata of Cuba to date. Characterizations and descriptions will be useful for species recognition through its osteology. From this result, we will contribute to clarify the species composition, and therefore it will allow for more comprehensive biogeographic inferences to Cuba and the Antilles. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ARANDA, ERNESTO; VINOLA-LOPEZ, LAZARO W.; ALVAREZ-LAJONCHERE, LUIS. New insights on the quaternary fossil record of Isla de la Juventud, Cuba. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, v. 102, OCT 2020. (16/09391-0)