A Late Quaternary lizard assemblage from the Southern Pampean Region of Argentina

Lizard remains are described from the late Quaternary Camping Americano locality, situated about 5 km south-southwest of Monte Hermoso (38°57′47″ S, 61°22′48″ W) in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Remains consist of 40 dentary fragments, 15 partial maxillae, and one vertebra. Two liolemids (Liolaemus multimaculatus and Liolaemus darwinii), one gekkonid (Homonota sp.), and one teiid (Cnemidophorus sp.) are recognized. Only the first two species live in the Camping Americano area at present. Divergence of the Liolaemus multimaculatus group might have taken place during development of the late Quaternary Pampean Aeolian System. Climate change in the southern Pampean Region during the last several thousand years might explain the disappearance of gekkonid and teiid taxa from the Camping Americano area.