2015 in reptile paleontology

This list of fossil reptiles described in 2015 is a list of new taxa of fossil reptiles that were described during the year 2015, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to reptile paleontology that occurred in 2015.

Ichthyosauromorphs Research A study of phylogenetic relationships of ichthyopterygians is published by Ji et al. (2015); the authors introduced a new name, Grippioidea, for the clade containing the last common ancestor of Utatsusaurus hataii and Grippia longirostris, and all its descendants. An exceptionally large ichthyosaur radius, possibly belonging to a member of Shastasauridae (which, if confirmed, would indicate that members of the family survived until Early Jurassic) is described from the Hettangian Blue Lias Formation (south Wales, United Kingdom) by Martin et al. (2015).

New taxa Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesCartorhynchusGen. et sp. novValidMotani et al.Early Triassic (Olenekian)Nanlinghu FormationA relative of ichthyopterygians. The type species is Cartorhynchus lenticarpus. Published online in 2014; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2015.DearcmharaGen. et sp. nov ValidBrusatte et al.Jurassic (Toarcian–Bajocian)A basal member of Neoichthyosauria. The type species is Dearcmhara shawcrossi.EretmorhipisGen. et sp. novValidChen et al.Early Triassic (late Spathian)Jialingjiang FormationA hupehsuchian. The type species is Eretmorhipis carrolldongi.Ichthyosaurus anningaeSp. nov ValidLomax & MassareEarly Jurassic (Hettangian/Sinemurian–Pliensbachian)A species of Ichthyosaurus.MuiscasaurusGen. et sp. nov ValidMaxwell et al.Early Cretaceous (Barremian–Aptian)Paja FormationA member of Ophthalmosauridae. The type species is Muiscasaurus catheti.

Sauropterygians

Research A study on the growth patterns and strategies of placodonts is published by Klein et al. (2015). A study on the sexual selection and dimorphism in Keichousaurus hui is published by Motani et al. (2015). A study on the teeth replacement patterns during the ontogeny in pliosaurids is published by Sassoon, Foffa & Marek (2015).

New taxa Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesAnguanaxGen. et sp. novValidCau & FantiLate Jurassic (Oxfordian)Rosso Ammonitico Veronese FormationA pliosaurid. The type species is Anguanax zignoi.AtychodraconGen. et comb. nov ValidSmithEarly JurassicA rhomaleosaurid plesiosaur; a new genus for "Plesiosaurus" megacephalus Stutchbury (1846).CardiocoraxGen. et sp. nov ValidAraújo et al.Late Cretaceous (early Maastrichtian)Mocuio FormationAn elasmosaurid plesiosaur. The type species is Cardiocorax mukulu.DianmeisaurusGen. et sp. nov ValidShang & LiMiddle Triassic (Anisian)Guangling FormationA member of Eosauropterygia of uncertain phylogenetic placement, more closely related to nothosaurs than to plesiosaurs. The type species is Dianmeisaurus gracilis.MakhairaGen. et sp. novValidFischer et al.Early Cretaceous (Hauterivian)A pliosaurid. The type species is Makhaira rossica.VegasaurusGen. et sp. nov ValidO'Gorman et al.Late Cretaceous (early Maastrichtian)Snow Hill Island FormationAntarctica (Vega Island)An elasmosaurid plesiosaur. The type species is Vegasaurus molyi.WangosaurusGen. et sp. nov ValidMa et al.Middle Triassic (Ladinian)Falang FormationA pistosauroid. The type species is Wangosaurus brevirostris.

Lepidosaurs

Research A phylogenetic analysis of living and fossil squamate relationships, based on morphological and molecular data, is published by Reeder et al. (2015). Miocene anoles from the Dominican amber, showing the habitat specializations also present in the extant Caribbean anoles, are described by Sherratt et al. (2015).

New taxa

Rhynchocephalians Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesClevosaurus sectumsemperSp. novValidKlein et al.Late Triassic (Rhaetian)A clevosaurid sphenodontian, a species of Clevosaurus.

Lizards Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesArchaerhineuraGen. et sp. novValidLongrich et al.Late PalaeocenePolecat Bench FormationA rhineurid amphisbaenian. The type species is Archaerhineura mephitis.AsagaolacertaGen. et sp. novValidEvans & MatsumotoEarly CretaceousKuwajima FormationA lizard of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is Asagaolacerta tricuspidens.AsprosaurusGen. et sp. novValidPark, Evans & HuhLate CretaceousA member of Anguimorpha, probably a member of Monstersauria. The type species is Asprosaurus bibongriensis.BabibasiliscusGen. et sp. novValidConradEocene (approximately 48 Ma)Bridger FormationA member of Corytophanidae. The type species is Babibasiliscus alxi.BarbatteiusGen. et sp. nov.ValidVenczel & CodreaLate Cretaceous (early Maastrichtian)Haţeg BasinOriginally assigned to the family Teiidae, but subsequently transferred to the separate family Barbatteiidae within the group Teiioidea. The type species is Barbatteius vremiri.Cadurcogekko verusSp. novValidBolet et al.EoceneA gekkotan lizard, a species of Cadurcogekko.ChromatogenysGen. et sp. novValidMakádi & NydamLate Cretaceous (Santonian)A member of Scincomorpha of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is Chromatogenys tiliquoides.ChthonophisGen. et sp. novValidLongrich et al.Probably early PalaeoceneBug Creek Anthills, Fort Union FormationAn amphisbaenian, the only member of the new family Chthonophidae. The type species is Chthonophis subterraneus.CuvieribaenaGen. et sp. novValidČerňanský, Augéc & RageEocene (Bartonian)A blanid amphisbaenian. The type species is Cuvieribaena carlgansi.DryadissectorGen. et sp. novValidWick, Lehman & BrinkLate Cretaceous (early Campanian)Aguja FormationA member of Varanoidea. The type species is Dryadissector shilleri.GekkomimusGen. et comb. novValidBolet et al.EoceneA skink; a new genus for "Cadurcogekko" rugosus Augé (2005).GueragamaGen. et sp. novValidSimões et al.Late Cretaceous (Turonian-Campanian)Goio-Erê FormationThe first member of Acrodonta (a relative of agamids and chameleons) described from South America. The type species is Gueragama sulamericana.HakusepsGen. et sp. novValidEvans & MatsumotoEarly CretaceousA squamate of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is Hakuseps imberis.KuroyuriellaGen. et sp. novValidEvans & MatsumotoEarly CretaceousKuwajima FormationA lizard of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is Kuroyuriella mikikoi.NorelliusGen. et sp. novValidConrad & DazaEarly Cretaceous (probably approximately 130 Mya)Öösh BasinA member of Gekkonomorpha of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is Norellius nyctisaurops.Ophisaurus holeciSp. novValidKlembaraMioceneA glass lizard.Pachygenys adachiiSp. novValidIkeda, Ota & SaegusaEarly CretaceousOhyamashimo FormationA squamate of uncertain phylogenetic placement, a species of Pachygenys.Phosphorosaurus ponpetelegansSp. novValidKonishi et al.Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)A halisaurine mosasaur, a species of Phosphorosaurus.Plioplatecarpus peckensisSp. novValidCuthbertson & HolmesLate Cretaceous (Campanian)Bearpaw FormationA mosasaur, a species of Plioplatecarpus.Pseudopus rugosusSp. novValidKlembaraEarly MioceneA relative of the sheltopusik.TetrapodophisGen. et sp. novValidMartill, Tischlinger & LongrichEarly Cretaceous (Aptian)Crato FormationA squamate reptile of uncertain phylogenetic placement; originally classified as an early, four-legged snake, but subsequently argued to be a dolichosaurid. The type species is Tetrapodophis amplectus.

Snakes Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesDiablophisGen. et comb. novValidCaldwell et al.Late JurassicMorrison FormationA basal snake; a new genus for "Parviraptor" gilmorei Evans (1996).EophisGen. et sp. novValidCaldwell et al.Middle Jurassic (Bathonian)Forest MarbleA basal snake. The type species is Eophis underwoodi.PortugalophisGen. et sp. novValidCaldwell et al.Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)Camadas de GuimarotaA basal snake. The type species is Portugalophis lignites.RenenutetGen. et sp. novValidMccartney & SeiffertEocene (Priabonian)A member of Colubroidea. The type species is Renenutet enmerwer.

Turtles Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesAdocus sengokuensisSp. novValidSonoda et al.Early CretaceousSengoku FormationA species of Adocus.ArvinachelysGen. et sp. novValidLivelyLate Cretaceous (Campanian)Kaiparowits FormationA member of Baenidae. The type species is Arvinachelys goldeni.Bairdemys thalassicaSp. novValidFerreira et al.MioceneCapadare FormationA podocnemidid belonging to the clade Stereogenyina, a species of Bairdemys.Baltemys velogastrosSp. novValidLichtig & LucasEocene (early Bridgerian)Huerfano FormationA member of Kinosternidae, a species of Baltemys.Corsochelys bentleyiSp. novValidSchwimmer et al.Late CretaceousA member of Dermochelyidae, a species of Corsochelys.Desmatochelys padillaiSp. novValidCadena & ParhamEarly Cretaceous (late Barremian-early Aptian)Paja FormationA member of Protostegidae, species of Desmatochelys.Gaffneylania Gen. et sp. novValidSterli, de la Fuente & KrauseMiddle EoceneSarmiento FormationA member of Meiolaniidae. The type species is Gaffneylania auricularis.Gobiapalone palaeocenicaSp. novValidDanilov et al.PaleoceneBugin Tsav BasinA member of Trionychidae, a species of Gobiapalone. The genus Gobiapalone was considered to be a junior synonym of the genus Kuhnemys by Georgalis & Joyce (2017), though the authors maintained G. palaeocenica as a distinct species within the latter genus.GomphochelysGen. et sp. novValidBourque et al.Early WasatchianWillwood FormationA member of Dermatemydidae. The type species is Gomphochelys nanus.Judithemys russelliSp. nov ValidBrinkmanLate CretaceousA member of (likely non-monophyletic) Macrobaenidae, a species of Judithemys.JurassichelonGen. et sp. novValidPérez-GarcíaLate Jurassic (early Tithonian)A basal member of Eucryptodira. The type species is Jurassichelon oleronensis.Khunnuchelys lophorhothonSp. novValidDanilov et al.Late Cretaceous (Santonian or early Campanian)Bostobe FormationA trionychine trionychid, a species of Khunnuchelys.KimurachelysGen. et sp. novValidBrinkman et al. Late Cretaceous (late Campanian)Dinosaur Park FormationA chelonioid turtle. The type species is Kimurachelys slobodae.LeyvachelysGen. et sp. novValidCadenaEarly Cretaceous (Barremian-Aptian)Glen Rose Formation