Biology:Pumilia

Short description: Extinct genus of lizards

Pumilia Temporal range: Blancan to Irvingtonian, 4.75–1.8 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
P. novaceki (top) and Phrynosoma mcallii (bottom)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Iguanidae
Genus:	†Pumilia
Species:	†P. novaceki
Binomial name
†Pumilia novaceki Norell, 1989

Pumilia novaceki is an extinct iguanid that lived in what is now Palm Springs, California , from the Blancan to Irvingtonian stages of the Pliocene to Early Pleistocene.

It is currently known from a partially crushed skull. Features of the skull show both basal iguanian features, and characters very similar to the extant Iguana, suggesting that the living animal may have resembled a juvenile green iguana.

Etymology

The genus name, Pumilia, means "diminutive" in Latin, in reference to how the living animal would have resembled a very small iguana. The specific name honors Michael J. Novacek, a colleague and friend of the describer, Mark Norell.

See also

• Lapitiguana
• Brachylophus gibbonsi

References

• Norell, Mark (December 19, 1989), "Late Cenozoic Lizards of the Anza Borrego Desert, California" Contributions in Science, No. 414, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA

Wikidata ☰ Q7259787 entry