The Early Miocene squamates of Amöneburg (Germany): the first stages of modern squamates in Europe

Squamate faunas from the MN 1–3 interval (earliest Miocene) are poorly known in Europe and worldwide. Our research brings the first report on a complete squamate fauna from the MN 2 zone in Europe. It comprises a relatively large number of specimens from Wiesbaden-Amöneburg in western Germany. MN 2 is part of a time interval (MP 29–MN 2) covering the latest Oligocene–earliest Miocene, which has been labelled the ‘Dark Period’ as far as snakes are concerned. Unexpectedly, a high diversity of squamates was discovered at Amöneburg. This fauna fills an important gap in our knowledge of herpetofaunas from this time interval in Europe, and it represents the first true beginnings of the modern fauna. The new finds are important for the two reasons. Firstly, the beginning of the Miocene heralds the temporary return to a paratropical humid climate after the relatively cool and dry Oligocene, and the Amöneburg material provides us with the opportunity to observe changes in herpetofaunas during this crucial interval. The fauna comprises some survivors from the Oligocene, and especially new forms which may have either originated locally, in Europe, or dispersed from the East. Secondly, the Early Miocene was marked by the collision of Eurasia with Africa, an event that potentially allowed immigration of African squamates into Europe. Since taxa with African affinities such as Chamaeleonidae and Cordylidae are missing from Wiesbaden-Amöneburg, this suggests that African taxa did not reach Europe in MN 2, but were able to enter it during MN 3. One new species, Blanus thomaskelleri sp. nov., is described.http:\.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:426A24DC-719B-4D13-86BF-E2858F1F1D49