This list of fossil reptiles described in 2019 is a list of new taxa of fossil reptiles that were described during the year 2019, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to reptile paleontology that occurred in 2019.
Lizards and snakes Research A study aiming to test which ecological and developmental traits have influenced skull evolution in the squamate reptiles, based on data from extant and extinct taxa, is published by Watanabe et al. (2019). A new assemblage of lizard tracks, representing the largest such assemblage yet reported from the Cretaceous, is described from the Lower Cretaceous Jinju Formation (South Korea) by Kim et al. (2019), who name a new ichnotaxon Neosauroides innovatus. New specimen of Yabeinosaurus robustus, preserving traces of integument and abdominal contents, is described by Xing et al. (2019). Jaw elements of skinks with an anatomy identical to Heremites vittatus are described from the late Miocene locality Solnechnodolsk (Russia) by Čerňanský & Syromyatnikova (2019), representing first Neogene record of the clade Mabuyidae reported so far. A juvenile specimen of Eolacerta robusta is described from the Eocene Messel pit (Germany) by Čerňanský & Smith (2019). Description of late Miocene lacertid fossils from the Solnechnodolsk locality (Russia), belonging to a relative of extant Balkan green lizard, is published by Čerňanský & Syromyatnikova (2019). A study on the diet, habitat and timing and cause of extinction of Gallotia goliath is published by Crowley et al. (2019). An almost complete and articulated fossil skull of the La Palma giant lizard is described from the Pleistocene of the La Palma island (Canary Islands) by Cruzado-Caballero et al. (2019), who also study the phylogenetic relationships of extant and fossil members of the genus Gallotia. The first fossil of a fringe-toed lizard reported so far is described from the Miocene Dove Spring Formation (California, United States) by Scarpetta (2019). A study on the taxonomy and evolutionary history of glyptosaurine anguids is published by Sullivan (2019). Fossils of Peltosaurus granulosus are described from the middle Oligocene Monroe Creek and upper Sharps formations of Sharps Corner, South Dakota by Scarpetta (2019), representing the youngest known record of glyptosaurine lizards reported so far. Fossil anguine material is described from the lower Miocene locality Ulm – Westtangente (Germany) for the first time by Klembara, Hain & Čerňanský (2019). Bochaton et al. (2019) present equations producing estimations of size and weight of monitor lizards on the basis of measurements of their bones, and use them to determine body size and weight of Late Pleistocene monitor lizards known from remains from the Doi Pha Kan rock shelter (Thailand). A study evaluating the fossil record of mosasaurs in terms of fossil completeness as a measure of fossil quality is published by Driscoll et al. (2019). A study on the morphology of the marginal teeth of Mosasaurus lemonnieri, and on their implications for the distinguishability of this species on the basis of fossil teeth, is published online by Madzia (2019). A skull of a member of the genus Mosasaurus is reported from the upper Maastrichtian López de Bertodano Formation (Seymour Island, Antarctica) by Ruiz et al. (2019). A study on the anatomy of the inner ear of Platecarpus is published by Yi & Norell (2019). An isolated tooth of a tylosaurine mosasaur is described from the Turonian of the Apennine Carbonate Platform by Romano et al. (2019), representing the first tylosaurine from Italy and the southernmost occurrence of a tylosaurine in the northern margin of the Mediterranean Tethys. A study on the phylogenetic relationships of tylosaurine mosasaurs is published by Jiménez-Huidobro & Caldwell (2019). A review of the taxonomic history of Clidastes liodontus and "Clidastes moorevillensis" is published by Lively (2019). A juvenile mosasaur specimen affected by infectious arthritis and spondyloarthropathy is described from the upper Maastrichtian of Antarctica by Talevi et al. (2019), representing the first report of a skeletal pathology of a mosasaur from the Southern Hemisphere. A study on the spatial and temporal distribution and evolutionary history of dolichosaurs is published by Campbell Mekarski, Pierce & Caldwell (2019). A study on the evolution, homology and reduction of the pelvic elements and hindlimbs of snakes is published online by Palci et al. (2019). A study on the evolution of vertebral intercentrum system of snakes, as indicated by data from specimens of Najash rionegrina and Dinilysia patagonica, is published by Garberoglio et al. (2019). New specimen of Najash rionegrina, consisting of a partial skull and closely associated vertebrae, is described by Garberoglio et al. (2019). Description of new fossil material (including eight skulls) of Najash rionegrina, and a study on the implications of these fossils for the knowledge of the evolution of the snake body plan, is published by Garberoglio et al. (2019). A study on the vertebral microanatomy of extinct aquatic snakes belonging to the families Nigerophiidae, Palaeophiidae and Russelophiidae is published by Houssaye et al. (2019). A study on the phylogenetic relationship and evolutionary history of caenophidian snakes, as indicated by data from extant taxa and fossil record, is published by Zaher et al. (2019). Revision of dipsadid snake fossils from Guadeloupe Islands is published by Bochaton et al. (2019). Snake fauna from the Miocene of the Baikadam and Malyi Kalkaman 1 and 2 localities in northeastern Kazakhstan, representing the best-documented Miocene snake assemblage in Central Asia, is described by Ivanov et al. (2019). Description of fossil snake vertebrae from the late Pleistocene fissure deposits of the Minatogawa Man site (Okinawa Island, Japan) is published by Ikeda et al. (2019). Description of Pleistocene snake fossils from the Shanyangzhai Cave (Hebei, China) is published online by Chen et al. (2019). Description of fossil material of lizards from the Oligocene and Miocene of the Valley of the Lakes (central Mongolia) is published by Čerňanský & Augé (2019).
New taxa Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes ImagesChalcides augeiSp. novValidČerňanský et al.Early middle MioceneA skink, a species of Chalcides. Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020.Egernia gillespieaeSp. novValidThorn et al.Middle MioceneRiversleigh siteA skink, a species of Egernia.EomadtsoiaGen. et sp. novValidGómez, Garberoglio & RougierLate Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)La Colonia FormationA madtsoiid snake. Genus includes new species E. ragei.Globidens simplexSp. novValidLeblanc, Mohr & CaldwellLate Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)Possibly Oulad Abdoun BasinA mosasaur.GurvelusGen. et sp. novValidAlifanovEarly Cretaceous (late Aptian–early Albian)Hühteeg HorizonA lizard belonging to the family Ardeosauridae. The type species is G. khangaicus.HoeckosaurusGen. et sp. novValidČerňanskýEarly OligocenePossibly a member of Dibamidae. Genus includes new species H. mongoliensis.HongshanxiGen. et sp. novValidDong et al.Late Jurassic (Oxfordian)Tiaojishan FormationA lizard of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is H. xiei.IndrasaurusGen. et sp. novValidO'Connor et al.Early CretaceousJiufotang FormationA basal member of Scleroglossa. The type species is I. wangi.KhereidiaGen. et sp. novValidAlifanovEarly Cretaceous (late Aptian–early Albian)Hühteeg HorizonA lizard belonging to the family Globauridae. The type species is K. aptiana.Lapparentophis rageiSp. novValidVulloCretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian)Kem Kem BedsAn early snake.NaimanosaurusGen. et sp. novValidAlifanovEarly Cretaceous (late Aptian–early Albian)Hühteeg HorizonA lizard belonging to the family Paramacellodidae. The type species is N. dinosauroaequalis.Ophisaurus manchenioiSp. novValidBlain & BailonEarly PleistoceneAn anguid lizard, a species of Ophisaurus.Palaeopython helveticusSp. novValidGeorgalis & ScheyerEoceneA boid snake.PalaeoxantaGen. et sp. novValidAlifanovEarly Cretaceous (late Aptian–early Albian)Hühteeg HorizonA lizard belonging to the family Eoxantidae. The type species is P. conicodentata.ParadorsetisaurusGen. et sp. novValidAlifanovEarly CretaceousA lizard belonging to the family Dorsetisauridae. Genus includes new species P. postumus.ParaxenophisGen. et sp. novValidGeorgalis et al.Latest Miocene or earliest PlioceneA colubrid snake. The type species is P. spanios.PeriergophisGen. et sp. novValidGeorgalis et al.Latest Miocene or earliest PlioceneA colubrid snake. The type species is P. micros.PortunatasaurusGen. et sp. novValidCampbell Mekarski et al.Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Turonian)An aigialosaur mosasauroid. Genus includes new species P. krambergeri.SardophisGen. et sp. novValidGeorgalis & Delfino in Georgalis et al.Early PleistoceneA snake, a member of Colubroidea of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is S. elaphoides.XenostiusGen. et sp. novValidAlifanovEarly CretaceousA lizard belonging to the family Xenosauridae. Genus includes new species X. futilus.
Ichthyosauromorphs
Research Two new specimens of Eretmorhipis carrolldongi, revealing superficial convergence with the modern platypus, are described from the Lower Triassic Jialingjiang Formation (China) by Cheng et al. (2019). A study on the phylogenetic relationships of ichthyosaurs will be published by Moon (2019). A study on the evolution of ichthyosaur body forms and on its impact on the energy demands of ichthyosaur swimming is published by Gutarra et al. (2019). A study on the flexibility and function of ichthyosaur tails, as indicated by comparisons with shark tails, is published by Crofts, Shehata & Flammang (2019). A study on the effects of methodology, missing data and exceptional preservation of fossil specimens in lagerstätten on known morphological diversity of fossil animals, as indicated by fossil record of ichthyosaurs, is published by Flannery Sutherland et al. (2019). A study on a putative Cretaceous mosasaur "Globidens" timorensis from Timor is published by Mulder & Jagt (2019), who consider this taxon to be of Triassic age, and reinterpret it as an ichthyosaur with affinities to the genera Tholodus and Xinminosaurus. A study on the prevalence and distribution of pathologies in the skeletons of ichthyosaurs from the Lower Jurassic Posidonienschiefer Formation (Germany) by Pardo-Pérez, Kear & Maxwell (2019). Second specimen of Wahlisaurus massarae is reported from a quarry in Somerset (United Kingdom), from the base of the Blue Lias Formation (Triassic–Jurassic boundary) by Lomax, Evans & Carpenter (2019), extending known geographic and stratigraphic range of the species. Partial skeleton of a large ichthyosaur from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) of Warwickshire, England is described by Lomax, Porro & Larkin (2019), who assign this specimen to the species Protoichthyosaurus prostaxalis. A study on the anatomy of the skull roof of Protoichthyosaurus prostaxalis, incorporating data from a previously unrecognized specimen, is published online by Lomax, Massare & Evans (2019). A neonate specimen of Ichthyosaurus communis is described by Lomax et al. (2019). A study on the variation of the hindfin morphology in the specimens of Ichthyosaurus and on its taxonomic utility is published by Massare & Lomax (2019). A study on the bone microstructure of the skeleton of a specimen of Stenopterygius quadriscissus from the Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale (Germany) is published by Anderson et al. (2019). A study on the ontogenetic variation in the anatomy of the braincases of members of the genus Stenopterygius is published by Miedema & Maxwell (2019).