Varanus priscus

Skeleton of Varanus priscus.

Taxonavigation

Taxonavigation: Paleoanguimorpha

Superregnum: Eukaryota Cladus: Unikonta Cladus: Opisthokonta Cladus: Holozoa Regnum: Animalia Subregnum: Eumetazoa Cladus: Bilateria Cladus: Nephrozoa Superphylum: Deuterostomia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Infraphylum: Gnathostomata Megaclassis: Osteichthyes Cladus: Sarcopterygii Cladus: Rhipidistia Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes Cladus: Elpistostegalia Superclassis: Tetrapoda Cladus: Reptiliomorpha Cladus: Amniota Classis: Reptilia Cladus: Eureptilia Cladus: Romeriida Subclassis: Diapsida Cladus: Sauria Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha Superordo: Lepidosauria Ordo: Squamata Cladus: Unidentata, Episquamata Cladus: Toxicofera Subordo: Anguimorpha Infraordo: Paleoanguimorpha

Superfamilia: Varanoidea
Familia: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Subgenus: Varanus (Varanus)
Species: †Varanus priscus

Name

• †Varanus priscus (Owen, 1859)

Lectotype: BMNH 32908c, a dorsal vertebra. [designated by Head, Barrett & Rayfield (2009: 446–447)]

Type locality: Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia.

Type horizon: Pleistocene.

Paralectotypes: BMNH 32908a and BMNH 32908b, partial dorsal vertebrae. [designated by Head, Barrett & Rayfield (2009: 446–447)]

Combinations

• Megalania prisca Owen, 1859: 43, pl. 7 (figs 1A, 2A,3A, 4A), pl. 8 (figs 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A) [original combination]
• Varanus priscus — Lydekker, 1888: 284 [name combination]

Synonyms

• Notiosaurus dentatus Owen, 1884: 249, pl. 12 (figs 1–9)
• Varanus dirus de Vis, 1889: 98
• Varanus warburtonensis Zietz, 1899: 210

References

Primary references

• Owen, R. 1859. Description of some remains of a giganticland-lizard (Megalania prisca, Owen) from Australia. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 149: 43–48, pl. 7–8.
• Owen, R. 1884. Evidence of a large extinct lizard (Notiosaurus dentatus, Owen) from Pleistocene deposits, New SouthWales, Australia. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 175: 249–251, pl. 12.
• de Vis, C.W. 1889. On Megalania and its allies. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 6: 93–99, pl. 4.
• Zietz, A. 1899. Notes upon some fossil reptilian remains fromthe Warburton River, near Lake Eyre. Transactions, Proceedings and Reports of the Royal Society of South Australia 23: 208–210.
• Head, J.J., Barrett, P.M. & Rayfield, E.J. 2009. Neurocranial osteology and systematic relationships of Varanus (Megalania) prisca Owen, 1859 (Squamata: Varanidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155(2): 445–457. DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00448.x

Vernacular names

English: Megalania, Devil Dragon
magyar: Megalánia